Got Questions About Building a Performance Home in Wanaka?
We’ve Got Straight Answers.
Wanaka Performance Homes FAQ’s:
Cost, Design & Smart Building Tips
Honestly? None that we’ve found.
If it’s in your budget—or even close to it—you should build one.
There’s a common myth that high-performance means high-cost, but the reality is, with clever design, smart sequencing, and better upfront planning, we can often build more efficiently than many standard homes.
And the payoff? Lower energy bills, better comfort, healthier air, longer-lasting materials—and homes that hold their value better over time.
A recent NZGBC study even showed that homes built to high-performance standards could take years off your mortgage. That’s not a downside. That’s a no-brainer.
What are the downsides to building a passive or high-performance home?
What’s your square metre rate for building in Wanaka?
Honestly? It depends.
We know that’s not the answer most people want, but square metre rates are a blunt tool—especially when we’re talking about smart, high-performance homes. They can give you a ballpark, but they won’t tell you what matters: how well your home will actually perform.
We don’t design to inflate square metre counts. We design to remove what you don’t need—like long hallways or rooms you’ll barely use—and focus on what delivers comfort, efficiency, and liveability. That might lift the cost per square metre on paper, but it’s often a far better investment in the long run.
If you're serious about performance, the conversation shouldn't start with square metres. It should start with how you want to live.
Does building a passive or high-performance home cost more?
There’s usually a modest upfront premium—somewhere between 5–15% depending on what you’re aiming for—but the lifetime savings and quality of living are often well worth it.
A recent NZGBC report showed that higher-performing homes like Homestar-rated builds could save Kiwi households thousands over the life of a mortgage—and shave up to two years off a 30-year loan.
While we don’t use Homestar as a measure ourselves, many of the architects we collaborate with do—and tools like this are proving what we’ve seen firsthand: performance pays off.
Without a doubt: great design and detailed modelling.
Performance doesn’t come from guessing—it comes from knowing. That’s why we invest in early-stage energy and thermal modelling to ensure your design works as hard as it can for you. Design is where performance starts, and it’s also the one thing you can’t retrofit.
And while we’re at it—windows. We can’t stress this enough. The right windows, placed in the right locations, with the right specs, make a huge difference to how your home feels and functions. Most people underestimate them. We don’t.
What’s the most important thing to invest in with a passive or performance home?
What kind of return can I expect from building a performance home?
There are two kinds of return here: one you can measure in dollars, and one you feel every day.
Financially, it’s pretty early days here in New Zealand. But we’re already seeing high-performance homes hold and grow their value. They’re more attractive to buyers, they cost less to run, and they’re better aligned with where the building code is heading. They also tend to last longer thanks to the quality of materials and attention to detail.
A recent study by the New Zealand Green Building Council showed that performance-rated homes not only save money long-term—they can significantly reduce the lifetime cost of your mortgage.
Personally, the return is comfort, health, and control. No more damp winters. No more running two heat pumps just to stay warm. Fresh, filtered air year-round. And a home that genuinely works for your lifestyle—not against it.
Who do we build these performance homes for?
Our clients are smart people. They're not in a rush to build something fast—they want to build something that lasts.
They understand that a home is more than a roof over your head. It’s your comfort, your health, your long-term investment. They value transparency, quality, and making decisions that will pay off over time—not just on day one.
They want a home that makes sense for how they live—and they trust us to build it that way. Many of the architects we work with do too.
Do you tender for work?
We don’t tender in the traditional sense.
It’s a system designed to pit builders against each other on price—often at the cost of quality, transparency, or future variations.
We believe in building relationships, not just homes. That means being upfront from day one, pricing fairly, and giving you full visibility throughout. If you're looking for the cheapest quote, we might not be your people. But if you want a partner who values honesty and detail—you’re in the right place.
How does your pricing process work for building in Wanaka?
Our pricing process is structured and transparent. Once we’ve got enough detail in your plans, we’ll provide a full estimate that’s carefully costed—usually taking 3–4 weeks and costing around $4,000 (credited if you go ahead with the build).
Before we start, we’ll ask you to sign a Letter of Intent, confirming you’re serious about working together and understand the value of this stage.
If you choose to use a QS (Quantity Surveyor) independently, we’re happy to collaborate—but we’ll still need to review it from a build-ability and performance point of view, usually billed at an hourly rate.
Have you got a burning question for us?
Now’s your chance to ask.
