There is a lot of property for sale right now, but which listing suits you best? OneRoof’s Buyers' Club series brings you the best in New Zealand real estate, from affordable starter homes to luxury mansions. We’ll highlight a range of homes from around the country that are worth your attention.
The Passive House, or Passivhaus, movement originated in Germany in the late 1980s and has morphed into a world-leading standard in energy efficiency and thermal comfort.
Utilising passive design principles, these builds are essentially far cheaper to run than your typical homes and maintain a perfect temperature between 20 and 22 degrees Celsius all year. Think Healthy Homes on steroids.
The five core design principles are Continuous Insulation, High-Performance Glazing, Airtightness, Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery, and Thermal Bridge-Free Construction – which work brilliantly together to counteract the dampness and mould that lurk in many Kiwi homes.
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To be certified as a Passive House, a home would need to meet strict criteria, all independently assessed. Passive homes are quite a bit more expensive to build but promise long-term cost efficiency, drastically improved indoor environmental quality and the ability to wear shorts and a T-shirt even when temperatures outside are plunging.
The following five homes have all been built with Passive principles in mind, although not all are officially certified as Passive Houses.
216 Glenmorven Road, Greytown, South Wairarapa | Price by negotiation
Bringing a bolt of design drama to the Wairarapa for owner Fiona Sutherland was Alex Greig, of GreenHAUS Architects, whose brief was to create a “mid-century home in a rural context”.
Phillipe Starck plumbing fittings, Marilyn Monroe wallpaper handprinted in New York, mid-century light fittings and a sunken lounge with shag carpet combine to create a unique and inviting living environment.
216 Glenmorven Road has a huge mid-century vibe, with design highlights including the Marilyn Monroe print wallpaper and lights. Photo / Supplied
The retro-furniture and fittings were sourced locally and globally. Photo / Supplied
Sutherland also wanted the house to be energy-efficient, so roped in one of New Zealand’s first certified Passive House designers to help with the build. “While doing research, I stumbled across an article by [former NASA engineer] Jason Quinn on his passion and devotion for Passive homes. That’s where it all began. He happily came on board to work with Alex to design and build my fabulous home,” she says.
OneRoof interviewed Sutherland when her house first hit the market in 2024. You can read the article here.
Her house is fully airtight and energy-efficient, is oriented perfectly north, and is modelled to sit comfortably at 20 degrees C year-round without conventional heating. German triple-glazed windows and a leading Zehnder heat recovery ventilation system ensure clean, constant airflow, while solar power helps keep running costs low.
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2 Rangeview Rise, Foxton Beach, Horowhenua | Enquiries over $950,000
This two-bedroom Foxton Beach home is certified as a Passive House, but that’s not its only accolade. It received a Gold Award and was named Category Winner at the 2021 Registered Master Builder House of the Year Awards for Manawatu, and was one of the National Top 100 homes for 2021.
The much-lauded residence has an RV of $970,000 and enjoys views of the Tararua Ranges, Manawatu River, and out to the coast from its prime, elevated position. The practical design works for a range of buyers, with its mezzanine floor doubling as a studio, office or weekend retreat.
Architecturally striking and an award-winner: 2 Rangeview Rise, Foxton Beach. Photo / Supplied
Tremains agent Teresa Haley says the property immediately feels like home. “When you walk in, there’s an instant feel of comfort, and there’s a view from every window. It’s a beautiful place to be,” she tells OneRoof.
“It’s the small things that make the difference. It’s got fresh air circulating all the time, so even on the hottest of days, you go in there, and it feels so comfortable. It’s awesome living.”
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1 Kahika Lane, Halswell, Christchurch | Contact the listing agent
Harcourts agent Clemency Lawn is selling this three-bedroom Halswell home, which was built by her husband’s company, J&S Build. She experienced first-hand the work that goes into creating a Passive House.
“Compared to anything else, it’s so fascinating. The developer of Bushland Park [which features many Passive homes] approached J&S Build to build it, and they’d never done one before. They had to do a lot of research and went to Auckland with the developer for a convention about Passive homes,” Lawn tells OneRoof.
The energy-efficient home at 1 Kahika Lane was built by the listing agent's husband. Photo / Supplied
“They’re more expensive to build, but down the track, the house is going to help pay for itself. And you can’t put a price on your health.”
She adds: “The warmth of it is striking. I’ve had open homes, and it’s been flipping freezing outside, and you walk in, no heating on, and it’s a standard 23 degrees.”
The home boasts high-performance insulation, triple-glazed windows, airtight construction, hydronic underfloor heating, heat pump hot water, and a central ventilation system with heat recovery. A 10.56kW solar system with battery storage and EV charging provisions is also included.
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20 Bragato Way, Cromwell, Central Otago | Price by negotiation
Located on the Wooing Tree Estate, this four-bedroom family home has been designed to capture views of the surrounding mountain ranges and easily withstand Central Otago’s not-for-the-faint-of-heart temperatures. Pavilion-style in its layout and filled with sun, there is plenty of space, both inside and out, for everyone to relax and entertain.
Completed in 2023, this architect-led four-bedroom home has an RV of $1.3m. Photo / Supplied
A high level of attention has been paid to the home’s thermal performance and durability, with features including 90mm and 140mm external framing, Low-E argon-filled glazing and a Rib Raft foundation. Large windows, strategic shading and cross-ventilation enhance natural light while supporting passive heating and cooling throughout the seasons. New Zealand Sotheby’s International Realty listing agents Justine Burke and Ben Terry note it won the 2026 New Zealand Institute of Architects Regional Award in the Small Project Architecture category.
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1 Todd Lane, Lake Hayes, Queenstown | Price $7.365m
Dubbed North Star and located on the Bendemeer Estate, this Passive house is the largest on our list. Equally spectacular when bathed in summer sun and blanketed in winter snow, the 437sqm, three-bedroom house is crafted from solid masonry and Ecoblock and was built with Passive principles.
It’s wrapped in rich modified African hardwood, which was chosen for its durability, minimal upkeep and tactile beauty. It also has triple-glazed windows and energy-efficient underfloor heating, for the dreamiest of apres-ski, and captures cinematic mountain vistas.
1 Todd Lane is warm even when the outside world is blanketed in snow. Photo / Supplied
Outside, the home sits within a magnificent Piet Oudolf-inspired garden designed by renowned landscape architect Jude van Brandenburg.
In his listing, Cam Winter from Oliver Road Luxury Real Estate says: “Just five years old, the property reflects a refined, future-focused ethos that values comfort, longevity, and performance.”
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