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24 July 2019 NZ Doctor: Bridging the gap with Healthy Homes

Not sure I’d consider Wellington or Rotorua any more damp than Christchurch or Auckland in the winter. Much of NZ is nearly 100% RH in the winter for at least...

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Jul 2019

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23 July 2019 Yes, your brand new house could be cold and damp

An example of a legally code minimum compliant new house that is cold and damp. Look at the photo of the condensation dripping off of the new double glazed windows....

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Jul 2019

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21 July 2019 Stuff’s Chris Hutching: New houses have cladding and joinery that lasts just 15 years

That title is a bit clickbaity but true. NZBC says the bits of house that are easily replaced only have to last 15 years. Twisted funny that this includes the...

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Aug 2019

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11 July 2019 MBIE: R&D tax incentive: What’s eligible and how to claim

NZ Tax Credit for Research & Design uses designing to meet Passive House energy standard as an example of something that is known “and there is no scientific or technological...

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Mar 2026

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Waikato (Taupiri) expoHaus is up for sale!

Announced in the eHaus winter 2019 newsletter: “We noted, with interest, the Waikato expoHaus today registered 19.5 degrees inside as the staff arrived for work, with an outside temperature of...

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Mar 2026

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4 July 2019 NZ Herald: What it’s like living in a home with no insulation: Condensation, mould and large power bills

“Six months ago I moved house and didn’t think too much about the state of insulation and heating in our new rental home. It was the middle of summer in...

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Jul 2019

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02 July 2019 Scoop: Doctors welcome rules making insulation the norm in rentals

“Installing insulation in a house can have a 6:1 cost benefit ratio for the very young and the very old – these people are our most vulnerable, and they spend...

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Jul 2019

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29 June 2019 Otago Daily Times’ Kim Dungey: Homely as it gets

Great article on the Hawera Passive House build that is the first in New Zealand to target the Passive House Premium build. We are looking forward to reviewing the final...

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Jul 2019

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28 June 2019 RNZ: Family desperate to leave freezing HNZ home

“It just feels like you’re camping outside, that’s what it is,” she said. She said the small lounge heater provided by HNZ – the home’s only heat source – did...

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Jul 2019

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28 June 2019 Stuff’s Libby Wilson: Kiwis ‘accept less’ from homes, passive house builder says

View Waikato expoHaus case study Title says it all – if what you want from a house is cheapest you are legally allowed to build than you should expect the...

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Jul 2019

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25 June 2019 The Fern: Stay at Redfern’s new no-carbon luxury apartments

The main website might be a bit slow to load but the apartments are really incredible. These are all Passive House and are targeting certification. The awesome news is you...

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Mar 2026

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07 June 2019 Kowhai House certified PH winner in NZIA Southern Architecture awards

Great to see Rafe Maclean recognised for this clever certified Passive House which is also his home. Case study and more information on the home here. “This project shows a...

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Jun 2019

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30 May 2019 Building Performance: MBIE commissioning review of seven key New Zealand Standards in the next year

Does anyone know how to participate in these reviews? Seems like a good way to try and fix the new ‘code compliant’ builds going up that are moulding and not...

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Mar 2026

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30 May 2019 Scoop: Budget response: Green Building Council

“The Government’s existing home insulation programme and the new healthy homes standards have been warmly welcomed, but they’re not enough. Hundreds of thousands of New Zealand owner occupied homes will...

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Jun 2019

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28 May 2019 Scoop: Survey finds Kiwis’ backyard dream still alive and well

It is interesting to me that the feature rated most essential is ‘Warm and dry’ which actually was higher rated than ‘Within budget’. A bit sad that folks buying homes...

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Jun 2019

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21 May 2019 Passive House kitchen extractor hood guide from PHI

For those of us designing Passive House we can all rejoice in the release of the official PHI guidance on kitchen extractor hoods and how to consider the heat losses...

by Jason Quinn

Updated: Mar 2026

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13 May 2019 News Hub’s Zane Small: NZ 2019 Healthy Homes Standard Signed in law

Monday 13th May 2019 NZ Parliament signed into law the Healthy Homes Standard. This effectively requires bringing the ceiling and underfloor insulation up to current standards, install fixed heating in...

by Jason Quinn

Updated: May 2019

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08 May 2019 Voxy; Poor air quality most likely during winter – Environment Southland

“As cold weather starts to bite, it’s also the time of year when people are most at risk from poor air quality. Environment Southland air quality scientist Owen West said...

by Jason Quinn

Updated: May 2019

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