Seventeen architectural projects across Wellington and the Wairarapa have been deemed the very best in Te Kāhui Whaihanga New Zealand Institute of Architects’ Regional Awards this year.

Te Matapihi ki te Ao Nui by Athfield Architects and Tihei in association won three awards, taking home honours in the Heritage and Interior Architecture categories, plus a Resene Colour Award. The jury praised the project as a “thoughtful renewal of an important civic landmark” that showed how buildings can adapt to contemporary social, cultural, and technical needs while retaining character.

This year the jury also reconised three projects in the Enduring Architecture category (for projects at least 25 years old), and a strong showing of four projects in the Housing-Multi-unit category.

One of those was Mahora Te Aroha by Novak+Middleton, which brings together several smaller sites in Kilbirnie to create a cohesive residential area that responds to the need for social and affordable housing with a mix of housing types and thoughtful planning that ensures access to light, outlook, outdoor space, and safety for residents.

“In a time of uncertainty, this year’s awards reveal architecture at its most hopeful,” says jury convenor and architect Amanda Bulman of Three Line Studio. “These award winners embrace housing diversity with creativity and care, celebrate uplifting and relevant enduring architecture, and reflect a growing Mana Whenua presence in public space. Together, they point towards a more connected and optimistic future.”

Bulman was joined on the jury by James Fenton (James Fenton Architect), Severin Soder (Architectus) and lay juror Haley Hooper (Studio MØN and Wellington City Council).

The winners received their awards at an event at Shed 6 in Wellington on 11 June.

Full list of 2026 Wellington Regional Architecture Awards winners by category:

Enduring Architecture

• Aratoi Wairarapa Museum of Art and History (2001) by Studio Pacific Architecture (Masterton)

• Gibbs House – Eastbourne (1998) by Gerald Parsonson Architect (Wellington)

• Pātaka Art + Museum (1998) by architecture+ (Porirua)

Heritage

• Te Matapihi ki te Ao Nui by Athfield Architects and Tihei in association (Wellington)

Housing

• H House by Parsonson Architects (Greytown)

• Kāpiti House by Studio Pacific Architecture (Te Horo)

• Parenga House by Tennent Brown Architects (Ōtaki)

Housing – Alterations and Additions

• Sergeant's Cottage by Guy Tarrant (Wellington)*

Housing – Multi-unit

• Aro Living Townhouse Development by architecture+ (Wellington)

• Mahora Te Aroha by Novak+Middleton (Wellington)

• Our Whare Our Fale by First Light Studio and Central Pacific Collective in association (Porirua)

• Waka Ama Street Housing by Studio Pacific Architecture (Porirua)

Interior Architecture

• Executive Wing – Level 3 Ministerial Suites by Studio Pacific Architecture (Wellington)

• Te Matapihi ki te Ao Nui by Athfield Architects and Tihei in association (Wellington)*

Planning & Urban Design

• The Bay by Novak+Middleton (Wellington)

Public Architecture

• Te Rua Archives New Zealand by Warren and Mahoney and Tihei in association (Wellington)*

Small Project Architecture

• Te Puna by Studio Pacific Architecture and Tihei in association (Wellington)

Note: * denotes Resene Colour Award winner.