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Hakaru-based Smith Construction NZ has taken out the Supreme House of the Year over $1 million award at the 2025 Master Builders House of the Year Awards, with four Mangawhai homes making the coveted Top 100 national list.
Smith Construction’s Mangawhai Heads coastal retreat was singled out by judges as “beautifully crafted” and also earned four additional accolades – New Home over $4m, Regional Gold, Outdoor Living, and Plumbing World Bathroom Excellence.
Meanwhile, one of Mangawhai’s longest-serving builders, Peter and Lynn Oakden of Oakland Homes, celebrated a Silver Award for their Heather Street property at Mangawhai Heads. Judges praised the home as a “cleverly built house to withstand coastal elements while celebrating its place by the sea.”
Peter, who attended the ceremony at Auckland’s Cordis Hotel on August 9 with homeowners Tina Gray and Paul Lewis, said he was delighted by the recognition.
“We put our heart and soul into the build, and to see that effort recognised by your peers is incredibly rewarding,” he said.
The Heather Street property had previously made headlines after two mature pōhutukawa trees on site were poisoned by an unknown assailant. Today, young saplings stand in their place, and homeowner Tina Gray says the family is thrilled with the result.
“The design is simple, has a beachy feel and a real flow. It’s exactly what we wanted.”
Mangawhai’s NF Construction also impressed, winning Regional Gold in the $1.5m–$2m category for their Langs Beach coastal home, described by judges as a “ray of sunshine.”
Broswick Builders, operating across Auckland and Northland, claimed a Special Regional Award in the New Home over $4m category for their striking “triple triumph” residence in Bream Tail.
The Top 100 homes now advance to a second round of judging, with national winners to be announced at the 2025 National Awards Gala in November.
