CARTERS customers recognised for their quality builds among this year’s regional winners in the Master Builders House of the Year competition.
Regional awards in the 2026 Master Builders House of the Year Competition have been decided and include builds showcasing some high-quality delivery by loyal CARTERS customers adding more awards to their tallies.
House of the Year shines a light on the country’s best residential builds, celebrating the craftsmanship of Master Builders members at their peak. This year, over 250 projects ranging from small urban spaces to striking architectural homes were entered from seven regions. From the Top 100, overall winners will be announced on 21 November.
Each home faced a rigorous, on-site evaluation by a panel of seasoned judges who drilled into every detail: workmanship, design integrity, aesthetic flair and overall liveability. Master Builders CEO, Ankit Sharma, says, “The Top 100 homes showcase the exceptional craftsmanship, innovation and commitment to quality that define New Zealand’s best residential building.”
Striking gold
Among the winners is Nigel Robertson Building Limited, the CARTERS customer taking a gold award and being named Southern region's category winner for New Home $500,000 - $750,000. With over 20 years of building experience, Invercargill-based Robertson dazzled the judges with an eye-catching Invercargill home.
With a crisp white exterior, sleek design and architectural flourishes including wedge-shaped clerestory windows, the build was orientated for sun, future proofing and privacy, using low-maintenance materials. The project began with dream clients, well versed in their wants and needs, with impeccable plans to work from, Robertson said. “We were working with a very well-prepared client whose friend was a past client of mine. When we met, out came a scaled drawing of what they wanted. It was very cleverly done - a draftsman I ran it by confirmed this!”
Robertson and his team worked on the project for around five months to turn the clients’ home dreams into reality. “The whole house is crisp and immaculate. My favourite part is the kitchen, which we had to get two joiners involved on. It included a unique island made in Christchurch,” said Robertson, a builder for 24 years.
Coordinating joiners across two cities could have been complex, yet every piece arrived exactly as intended and the process ran like clockwork. The aforementioned island has vertical timber detailing and sits beside a bank of contrasting dark hued cupboards, a window behind a stovetop and a walk-in pantry. It’s a light-infused open-plan living space that transitions to the outdoors through sliders. Two sunny bedrooms (one with ensuite and walk-in wardrobe), a second bathroom and garage with laundry complete the home.
For Robertson, this completes a hat trick of House of the Year accolades, following on from a gold and a category win in 2017, and a silver in 2020. He has been a CARTERS customer throughout most of his career, after a past boss was ‘a CARTERS man’.
He added, "They were a dream to work with. It was very pleasing to get an award for this - you always like to have your work acknowledged and this project was very cool. I’m very pleased.”
BRIGHT SPARK | WINDSOR - Nigel Robertson Building Limited
Credit: STUDIO JUBB
AWARDS WON:
Regional Category Winner:
Southern Region New Home $500,000 - $750,000
Regional Gold Award
Trending in building
Five precision-built modules, with a skilful building company at the helm, created a beautiful coastal home. Trendset Build was named Regional Category Winner, also taking out a Regional Special Award and two Regional Golds, for two builds in the Waikato region.
In Whangamatā, their client didn’t want to miss a summer at the beach while her new property was being created, so they crafted five modules in Hamilton, which were then trucked and craned onto her section. This allowed controlled construction, while the owner still got to enjoy her coastal bolthole.
Trendset Build’s Mike Flaxman said, “I was very nervous entering this property into the competition because I didn’t know how the judges were going to perceive it, being a modular build.
The 141sqm, three-bedroom property, which is a short stroll from the beach, had to function as a family bach, as well as the owner’s retirement home. And Flaxman’s plan for the build worked a treat. An H-shaped floor plan was carefully considered to maximise light, flow and connection to the outdoors. The main living module spills out to three outdoor areas. When the owner is enjoying the house alone, the spaces feel calm and contained, while the layout easily accommodates visiting family.
The interior is light and airy. A stylish white and pale timber kitchen has a long breakfast bar and a scullery in matching finishes. In the main bedroom is a dressing room, ensuite and sliders that open onto decking. There are two more bedrooms, a bathroom and a separate laundry. The cohesive and meticulously finished retreat belies the complexity of the multi-part project. It’s seamless and provides compelling evidence that thoughtful design and exact construction can result in a high-quality modular home.
SMOOTH OPERATOR | WHANGAMATĀ - Trendset Build
Credit: KYM RAUBENHEIMER
AWARDS WON:
Regional Category Winner:
Waikato Region New Home $500,000 - $750,000
Regional Special Award
Regional Gold Award
A Hamilton build also gained glory for the Trendset Build team. This renovation transformed a traditional late-1970s home, owned by a Hamilton architect, into a bold contemporary residence with a commanding presence.
Trendset Build’s Mike Flaxman said, “I felt pretty privileged to work on this project, especially given the client was an architect who has worked with so many builders but chose us for the job.”
An extensive exterior overhaul completely redefined the character of the house, while retaining the scale and structure of the original architecture. The project began with the removal of asbestos cladding, ageing timber joinery and the existing roofing. In their place, thermally broken double glazing and modern roof and wall claddings created a sharper architectural profile and a far more durable exterior.
One of the defining features is the dramatic aluminium rainscreen at the entry. Stretching approximately 6.7 metres high and 12 metres long, the vertical screening creates a strong presence. A translucent feature wall provides shelter from prevailing winds, while still allowing natural light to filter through the entry.
Internally, the renovation work required careful coordination to protect previously completed living spaces, kitchens and bathrooms during construction. New feature walls and custom cabinetry were integrated into the existing interiors, helping tie the renewed exterior look to the home’s interior. The result is a substantial, modern renovation that has been carefully crafted from every angle.
For Flaxman, a CARTERS customer since he started his own building business 19 years ago, these awards bring his lifetime House of the Year haul to five golds, four category wins, one regional supreme, one special award and two Top 100 Homes.
IN ITS ELEMENT | HAMILTON - Trendset Build
Credit: TROY CONSTABLE, INHOUSE
AWARDS WON:
Regional Category Winner:
Waikato Region Renovation $500,000 - $1 million
Regional Gold Award
Celebrating excellence
Master Builders CEO Ankit Sharma says, “House of the Year has celebrated excellence in residential building for more than 30 years, and each year gives us the opportunity to recognise not only outstanding homes, but the talented teams behind them and the trust between homeowners and builders.
“These homes showcase the leadership of Master Builders across the sector and the role our members are playing in shaping the future of residential building in New Zealand.”
The Top 100 homes, representing the best entrants from this year's regional competitions held throughout July and August, undergo a second round of judging by the national judging panel. This process determines the winners of the top awards to be presented at the 2026 National Awards Gala on 21 November in Auckland.
The gala will honour the National Supreme House of the Year over $1 million, National Supreme Renovation of the Year, and National Supreme House of the Year under $1 million, 15 national category winners and more.
For more information, see:
Copy link
