Village Assistant

Celebrating the best in timber design. Air New Zealand's Hangar 4, designed by Studio Pacific Architecture, has claimed the Resene Supreme Award, the highest honour at this year's Timber Design Awards, at the 51st Gala Dinner hosted by Timber Unlimited. The judging panel called the project a benchmark achievement, praising its blend of innovation and engineering elegance. Built using a combination of laminated veneer lumber (LVL) and cross-laminated timber (CLT), Hangar 4 showcases timber's environmental credentials, seismic resilience and corrosion resistance, offering a lighter alternative in a building sector traditionally dominated by steel. The project also picked up the Nelson Pine Commercial & Industrial Building Design Award (jointly with Kai Tahi, Porirua) and the Rothoblaas Innovative Timber Engineering Award. This year's awards drew 132 entries across 52 projects, with 17 category winners and 11 Highly Commended projects recognised on the night. The Simpson Strong-Tie People's Choice Award went to 211 High Street, submitted by Ignite Architects, after more than 700 votes were cast during a 48-hour public voting window; a sign of the growing public interest in timber construction. Other standout winners included AUT Tukutuku by Jasmax, which took out both the Abodo Sustainable Development Award and the Red Stag Mid-Rise Building Design Award. The University of Auckland featured prominently across the student and innovation categories, with James Corles winning the Timber Design Society Student Design Award for Grainform, and Anthony Hōete recognised in the Spec Toolbox Innovative Timber Manufacturing & Technology Award for Whare Mīmirū, a seismically resilient structure incorporating Māori post-tensioning techniques. The Build Anatomy International Project Award was jointly awarded to Red Stag Timberlab for its Timber Nets on Melbourne's West Gate Tunnel Project, and to PTL Structural + Fire for the Majuro ECC Sports Stadium in the Marshall Islands, recognising New Zealand timber expertise on the world stage. Other category winners included Partridge Jewellers in Queenstown (Interior Design Award), Summerset Milldale (Residential Design Award for Multi-Unit Residential Building), Te Whare Hononga by Tennent Brown Architects (Public & Community Building Award), University of Auckland B201 by Jasmax (Hybrid Building Award), and Living House by RTA Studio (Residential Design Award for Single Family Dwelling). Daniel Scheibmair, Chair of Timber Unlimited, said the quality of entries reflected the growing maturity of New Zealand's timber sector. "What stood out wasn't just the quality of the winning projects, but the willingness of our industry to share knowledge so openly throughout the day. That's how we continue to grow confidence in timber and deliver even better outcomes for clients and communities," he said. A lighter moment on the night saw native seedling table centrepieces, sponsored by PEFC New Zealand, given away to attendees at the end of the evening. Every seedling found a new home. Timber Unlimited thanked judges Tom Webster, Katie Symons, Huia Reriti and David Carradine, along with sponsors Resene, Simpson Strong-Tie, Red Stag, XLAM, Techlam, Prolam, Rothoblaas, Build Anatomy, Nelson Pine, Abodo, Spec Toolbox, Eurotec, Te Kāhui Whaihanga NZIA and the Timber Design Society for their ongoing support of the awards and the industry. Full results are available on the Timber Unlimited website.

Renewable energy, recycling and fairy garden celebrated in retirement village sustainability awards. 5 August 2026 A nationwide renewable energy programme, a comprehensive recycling and repurposing initiative, and a fairy garden have taken top honours in the Retirement Villages Association's 2026 Sustainability Awards. The awards recognise outstanding projects in building design, landscaping, village operations and resident activities that support more sustainable retirement living across New Zealand. The 2026 awards span three categories: resident-led gardening and landscaping projects, operator-led sustainability initiatives, and resident-led sustainability initiatives. Bupa New Zealand won the APL Window Solutions Operator-led Sustainability Award for its Electrification, Renewable Energy & High-Performance Design project. The multi-year programme is designed to decarbonise Bupa retirement villages and care homes by replacing ageing infrastructure, including gas-fired hot-water boilers, with high-efficiency electric heat pump systems. Summerset at Monterey Park in Hobsonville won the Resene Paints Resident-led Sustainability Award for its Recycling & Re-Purposing Champions initiative. The initiative began after residents noticed families clearing loved ones' homes often disposing of useful household items because there were few convenient local alternatives. A dedicated group researched available recycling pathways and established a network of accessible, clearly marked collection points throughout the village, supporting a wide range of recycling and repurposing streams. Many items are donated to local op shops, while materials unsuitable for reuse are directed to specialist recycling streams. Arvida Lauriston Park in Cambridge won the Bunnings Trade Resident-led Gardening & Landscaping Award for its Fairy House Garden initiative. After a large elm tree at the village entrance had to be removed, residents transformed the remaining stump into a whimsical fairy house and garden using upcycled materials. Created with upcycled materials and illuminated by twinkling lights at night, the garden is now enjoyed by residents, visiting grandchildren and families from the wider community. RVA executive director Michelle Palmer said sustainability was becoming an increasingly important part of retirement village life. "The calibre of entries was exceptionally high. Operators are delivering ambitious nationwide programmes, as demonstrated by Bupa, while residents and village teams across New Zealand are leading practical initiatives that reduce waste, strengthen communities and enhance village environments, such as those at Summerset at Monterey Park and Arvida Lauriston Park. "The awards also reflect the wider sustainability momentum across our sector. Earlier this year, the RVA launched the Food Waste Reduction Toolkit, developed in partnership with the University of Otago. It provides retirement villages and aged-care facilities with a practical, guided pathway to understand and reduce food waste." The winners were announced at the RVA Conference Gala Dinner in Auckland on Tuesday 4 August 2026. Sam Halstead 027 474 6065

Who is Alison Barrass and why has Summerset chosen her? 16 July 2026 02:54 PM NZST Summarize with AI You are reading a free article with opinions that may differ from the recommendation given by Kalkine in its paid research reports. Become a Kalkine member today to get access to its research reports, in-depth technical and fundamental research. Learn more Highlights * Summerset has appointed Alison Barrass as an independent non-executive director, effective 1 September 2026. * Alison Barrass will succeed Gráinne Troute as Chair of the People & Culture Committee from 1 October 2026. * Gráinne Troute will retire after a decade on the Board, during which Summerset expanded its village network and entered Australia. Summerset Group Holdings Limited (NZX:SUM) has announced the appointment of Alison Barrass as an independent non-executive director, effective 1 September 2026. She will also assume the role of Chair of the People & Culture Committee from 1 October 2026, following the retirement of long-serving director Gráinne Troute on 30 September 2026. The appointment forms part of the company's planned Board succession process. Summerset said Barrass brings extensive governance and executive experience across industries including consumer goods, agriculture, property, financial services and technology, adding broad leadership expertise to the Board as the company continues its operations in New Zealand and Australia. Experienced Governance Leader to Join the Board Alison Barrass has held governance roles across several listed and private organisations, including AA Insurance, Spark, Zespri International, and Precinct Properties. Before moving into governance, she spent more than a decade as a chief executive, most recently leading Griffins Foods. Summerset said her experience across multiple sectors and customer-focused leadership background will strengthen the Board's governance capabilities. She is expected to join the Board on 1 September 2026 before taking over as Chair of the People & Culture Committee one month later. Board Transition Marks the End of a Decade of Service Gráinne Troute will retire from Summerset's Board after serving for 10 years. During her tenure, the company more than doubled its resident base, expanded from 21 registered villages to 43, and established its presence in Australia. She also chaired the People & Culture Committee and contributed to a range of governance initiatives throughout her time on the Board. Summerset stated that the transition has been planned to support continuity, with Barrass working alongside Troute during the handover period before assuming her committee responsibilities. Download Free Report - Explore 3 Stock Ideas & Industry Insights Unlock 3 stock ideas and key industry insights in its free report. This information is general in nature and does not consider your personal objectives, financial situation, or needs. It is not financial advice. All investments involve risk - consider independent advice before making any investment decisions. Disclaimer: