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New Zealand Timber Design Awards 2026. Recognising "the continued growth and maturity of NZ's timber sector". By Michael Smith After a keenly felt three-year absence, the New Zealand Timber Design Awards made a triumphant return to the spotlight - part of a full day in Auckland "dedicated to learning, collaboration and celebrating excellence in New Zealand timber design and construction". The day began with 'Timber Delivered', a seminar that involved teams behind fi vee leading mass timber projects sharing the lessons that don't necessarily make it into case studies. Proceedings concluded in the evening with a gala dinner at which 17 Category Award Winners and 11 Highly Commended projects were recognised. Daniel Scheibmair, Chair of Timber Unlimited (presenter of the awards), says 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." SUPREME AWARD The evening's highest honour, the Resene Supreme Award, went to Air New Zealand's Hangar 4, by Studio Pacific Architecture (also a joint winner of the Nelson Pine Commercial & Industrial Building Design Award). The judging panel described the project as "a benchmark achievement, demonstrating both innovation and exceptional engineering elegance in timber design and construction". A combination of LVL and CLT, under an EFTE envelope, the project illustrates timber's environmental benefits, seismic resilience, corrosion resistance and structural efficiency - and its viability for large-scale infrastructure through precision manufacturing, complex logistics and connection design. (Timber Trader News first reported on the plan for Air New Zealand's Hangar 4 in its Mar/Apr 2023 edition. An interview with lead architect Patrick Thompson followed in the May/Jun 2024 edition as the project got under way. And in its Nov/Dec 2025 edition TimberTrader News Pty Ltd reported on the opening of Hangar 4, attended by Air New Zealand CEO Greg Foran and Prime Minister Christopher Luxon.) 211 HIGH STREET The Simpson Strong-Tie People's Choice Award went to 211 High Street, by Ignite Architects. More than 700 votes were cast over the 48-hour voting period, highlighting the strong interest in and enthusiasm for timber projects across the wider industry and community. Located in the Christchurch CBD, 211 High Street is a four-level commercial building whose structure is defined by the selective use of timber. As noted by Timber Unlimited, "A regular grid of spruce glulam columns and European spruce CLT floor and roof slabs create open floor plates that maximise tenant flexibility and adaptable fit outs." Key internal timber elements include white ash battens and decorative plywood linings, which enrich wall treatments... while spruce CLT forms the atrium stair, risers and landings. Tectonus friction dampers provide ductility and low-damage performance to achieve seismic resilience, and measurable sustainability outcomes include reduced embodied carbon, lower structural weight, and a recently achieved Green Star 6 rating. CONRADI HOLZHAUS Above: Conradi Holzhaus: "The home's form and layout are shaped by timber's ability to provide structure, enclosure, and interior finish in one element." Winner of the Spec Toolbox Innovative Timber Manufacturing & Technology Award was Conradi Holzhaus, by PTL Structural & Fire - a three-storey family home in Wānaka "that brings together natural living, advanced timber engineering, and precision manufacturing". The aim was to create a "healthy, toxin- free, warm and nurturing home, simple in form, natural in materiality, and efficient in performance". With that in mind, the holzius system was chosen as the method of construction - a merger of traditional solid timber know-how with modern CNC machining that resulted in a glue- and metal-free mass timber building. The judges were impressed with the advances in precision timber fabrication of mechanically interlocked systems on display in Conradi Holzhaus. "A timber-only option for a building like this is a big step forward when environmental considerations are a priority, and the technology used makes this a viable concept which has previously been difficult or impossible to achieve." LIVING HOUSE The Te Kāhui Whaihanga NZIA Residential Design Award for Single Family Dwelling went to Living House by RTA Studio - a modular system that demonstrates the potential of mass timber to transform affordable housing. The judges admired the use of exposed cross-laminated timber, which brings warmth, character and a strong sense of solidity whilst supporting low embodied carbon outcomes. "Through close collaboration with manufacturers and suppliers, the project delivers a fast, efficient and accessible housing solution. And despite its compact footprint, the high-volume exposed timber interior spaces show how sustainable, net- zero design can be both affordable and inspirational." RTA Studio has been working with a New Zealand engineering firm, Tonkin + Taylor, to adapt the Living House for co-housing, communal living and papakāinga housing (housing created by Māori iwi/tribes) that can be built on climate-adverse land. It involves adapting the two- and three- bedroom designs with foundations specific to sites impacted by extreme weather and climate change. This allows the low-cost house to be easily built on bad soil types and to be relocated if necessary. The collaboration provides local authorities and iwi with a solution for building in precarious places. (A comprehensive profile of the Living House, including an interview with RTA Studio founder Richard Naish, can be read in the Sep/Oct 2025 edition of Timber Trader News.) SUMMERSET MILLDALE Winner of the XLAM Residential Design Award for Multi-Unit Residential Buildings (up to three levels) was Summerset Milldale, by Summerset Group Holdings Limited. This three-storey Regional Main Building (RMB) is at the heart of the six-hectare Summerset Milldale retirement village on the Hibiscus Coast, north of Auckland - and provides communal amenities, care, serviced apartments and memory care facilities for the wider village. As noted by Timber Unlimited, "the project utilised engineered timber systems, including CLT for floors and roof structures, alongside LVL, glulam and panelised timber framing for walls and structural support. These materials were selected for their structural performance, seismic resilience, and suitability for prefabrication." The judges felt the strength of the RMB was in the scale of using timber for such a large building - and being bold enough to use timber for a project that would typically be done in other materials. "Projects like this set a precedent for what can be achieved with timber on a large scale and help to provide a pathway for the future where buildings of this type become the norm rather than the exception." KAI TAHI, PORIRUA A joint winner of the Nelson Pine Commercial & Industrial Building Design Award was Kai Tahi, Porirua, by Dunning Thornton. This public arcade and food hall marketplace makes a significant contribution to the reshaping of Porirua's waterfront by reusing an industrial warehouse and dead- end service lane. The judges noted the human-scale features of the building, where the warmth and lightweight characteristics of the engineered timber roof, mezzanine floor and walls have been used to create a transformational space for the city. "Timber has been used to great effect to create an attractive landmark out of an old industrial space that connects a broad range of functions - business, art, shelter and hospitality - and does so with a people-first approach." TE WHARE HONONGA Commissioned by the Taranaki Anglican Trust Board, Te Whare Hononga by Tennent Brown Architects won the Techlam Public & Community Building Award. The project is an offering to the community, and in particular to mana whenua (a tribe's territorial rights), who have long endured a painful alienation. The judges were impressed and intrigued by the architecture - a contemporary, parallelogram planned and overtly Māori whare (house) used for hui (meetings) and exhibitions. They noted the importance of the timber structure (a lattice of interdependent pinus radiata LVL and shaped glue-laminated elements) in establishing the building's value and identity. "The structure is held together simply with a combination of CNC housing and connections, so the focus is on the timber elements." Although small, the building embodies a modern mass-timber approach - "integrated architecture versus structure with strength through form, digital modelling, careful use of CNC processing, and modern technologies." Thanks to Kate Smart at Timber Unlimited for her help in compiling this material.

Can Air New Zealand (NZX:AIR) turn its Strategy Reset into a recovery? 21 September 2026 10:22 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 * Air New Zealand reported total Revenue of NZD 7.0 billion for FY2026 but recorded a loss before taxation of NZD 336 million. * The airline is implementing its "Our Future" strategy reset around customer experience, targeted growth and improved financial performance. * Board changes and the upcoming Annual Shareholders' Meeting place governance and strategy execution firmly in focus. Air New Zealand (NZX:AIR) enters a new financial year with investors watching whether its latest strategy reset can begin translating into improved operating and financial outcomes. The airline's FY2026 result highlighted the pressure created by fuel costs, engine availability constraints and elevated aviation system expenses, while its recently outlined strategic priorities indicate how management intends to respond. The combination of financial pressure, network development and Leadership changes has made the next stage of execution particularly important. What Did Air New Zealand's FY2026 Results Reveal? Air New Zealand reported a loss before taxation of NZD 336 million for the year ended June 2026, compared with Earnings before taxation of NZD 164 million in the previous year. Net loss after taxation stood at NZD 242 million. Despite the weaker bottom line, total revenue increased 3.9% to NZD 7.0 billion, while passenger revenue rose 4.8% to NZD 6.1 billion. Operating Cash Flow was NZD 819 million, compared with NZD 940 million a year earlier. The airline attributed much of the deterioration to higher fuel prices, multi-year engine availability issues, lifecycle maintenance costs, additional expenditure relating to leased engines and aviation system costs rising faster than inflation. Available seat kilometre capacity increased 1.3% as aircraft returned to service, although some capacity was reduced in response to elevated fuel prices. No final Dividend was declared, consistent with the company's Capital Management Framework. Could the Strategy Reset Change the Direction? Air New Zealand's strategy reset, called "Te Pae Hou - Our Future," is centred on returning the airline to profitability and generating improved Shareholder returns over time. Management has identified three strategic priorities, including putting customers first, pursuing targeted growth and improving the Economics of the business. Reliability and punctuality are key components of the customer-focused approach, with the airline reporting improvement in on-time performance during FY2026. Targeted growth is meanwhile focused on developing a profitable network and increasing exposure to larger and more resilient markets. The airline has already announced additional Christchurch connections to Japan, Singapore and Perth as part of this direction. Execution will therefore be important. Air New Zealand must balance network opportunities with aircraft availability, operating expenses and external cost pressures while ensuring capacity growth contributes sustainably to earnings. Why Are Leadership Changes Worth Watching? Governance is also evolving. Director Larry De Shon is due to retire at the 2026 Annual Shareholders' Meeting, while former airline executives Campbell Wilson and Robert McDonald have been appointed by the board, subject to shareholder re-election at the meeting. Existing directors Dean Bracewell and Laurissa Cooney are also seeking re-election. Wilson brings more than three decades of aviation experience, including senior leadership positions across major international airlines. McDonald previously served as Air New Zealand's Chief Financial Officer. Their appointments could add further airline and financial experience to the board as management works through its strategy reset. The Annual Shareholders' Meeting is scheduled for 24 September 2026. With FY2026 highlighting significant cost and operational challenges, attention is likely to remain on how quickly the strategy reset can improve reliability, capacity utilisation and financial performance. FAQs. Q: What was Air New Zealand's FY2026 loss before tax? A:The airline reported a loss before taxation of NZD 336 million. Q: What is Air New Zealand's new strategy focused on? A:It focuses on customer performance, targeted network growth and improving the airline's financial economics. Q: when is Air New Zealand's 2026 shareholder meeting? A:The Annual Shareholders' Meeting is scheduled for 24 September 2026. 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:

Flying Food Group expands Air New Zealand partnership with Honolulu service launch. By Jane Hobson Flying Food Group is expanding its Air New Zealand partnership with the launch of Honolulu service at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport Flying Food Group (FFG) tells PAX International it is pleased to announce the successful launch of catering operations for Air New Zealand at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) on August 16. The Honolulu launch represents the fourth Air New Zealand station supported by Flying Food Group since the partnership began in 2025, further expanding the companies' growing relationship and reinforcing FFG's ability to deliver consistent, high-quality service across multiple markets. The startup was successfully completed despite challenging weather conditions that impacted the first flight. "Air New Zealand is an important and valued customer, and we are proud to continue expanding our partnership with them," said Nicolas Rondeau, Executive Vice President of Sales & Marketing at Flying Food Group. "The successful launch in Honolulu reflects our commitment to delivering consistent, high-quality service while providing the flexibility, expertise, and local support required for each operation." The Honolulu startup marks another important milestone in Flying Food Group's continued growth and further strengthens its partnership with Air New Zealand.