Regional Anniversary Breakfast: Tāmaki Makaurau

Thursday 20 January
8.00am - 9.30am
Auckland
Cost: UDINZ Member $25, Non-Member $50

The regional anniversaries in each of our major metros are a good time to lift our heads and see what the future may hold in store for us. Some things change, and some stay the same. Our past and the decisions we all make today, will shape that future.

Critically important to that future is collaborative behaviour from our leaders. Join others working in urban development at our 2026 UDINZ Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland Anniversary Breakfast being held at Pavilion Kitchen from 8.00am on Tuesday 20 January. 

We'll hear from city leaders who will share their vision for the future of the region. 

"Ka mua, ka muri" is a whakatauki that many will know. It means "walking backwards into the future". It informs the concept for these events. The idea is we need to honour the past and the decisions of those that came before, but recognise we carry responsibility for the decisions we make (or enable) today because they too shape our collective future. 

|Our City Leader Speakers

Regional Anniversary Breakfast: Te Whanganui-a-Tara

Wednesday 28 January
8.00am - 9.30am
Wellington
Cost: UDINZ Member $30, Non-Member $50

The regional anniversaries in each of our major metros are a good time to lift our heads and see what the future may hold in store for us. Some things change, and some stay the same. Our past and the decisions we all make today, will shape that future.

Critically important to that future is collaborative behaviour from our leaders. Join others working in urban development at our 2026 UDINZ Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington Anniversary Breakfast being held at our usual venue - Picnic Cafe, located in the heart of Wellington's stunning Botanic Gardens - from 8.00am on Wednesday 28 January

We'll hear from city leaders who will share their vision for the future of the region. 

"Ka mua, ka muri" is a whakatauki that many will know. It means "walking backwards into the future". It informs the concept for these events. The idea is we need to honour the past and the decisions of those that came before, but recognise we carry responsibility for the decisions we make (or enable) today because they too shape our collective future. 

|Our City Leader Speakers

UDINZ Summer Site Tour of 888 Colombo Street

Tuesday 3 February
5.00pm - 6.30pm
Christchurch
Cost: UDINZ Member Free, Non-Member $80

Join UDINZ and UDF on a Summer Site Tour of 888 Colombo Street in Christchurch by Growcott Freer Property.

888 Colombo Street is situated within walking distance of a range of amenities and provides easy access to Christchurch’s city centre. Nearby areas include Cathedral Square, Victoria Street’s commercial precinct, Hagley Park, and the Botanic Gardens, offering a mix of commercial, civic, and open-space environments.

The development has been designed to integrate with its urban surroundings while maintaining a sense of separation between dwellings. The Colombo Street frontage includes an apartment building with one-bedroom units at ground level and two-bedroom apartments across the first and second floors.

Set further back on the site is a group of townhouses, comprising a mix of three-bedroom homes with garages and two-bedroom homes with dedicated car parking. The layout and design focus on functionality, privacy, and efficient use of space.

Join Isaac Freer & Nicholas Growcott to tour the development.

This site tour is in collaboration with UDF (Urban Design Forum Aotearoa)

UDINZ Summer Site Tour of Library Chambers 1873

Wednesday 11 February
4.30pm - 6.00pm
Christchurch
Cost: UDINZ Member Free, Non-Member $80

Join UDINZ on a Summer Site Tour of Library Chambers 1873, new commercial development in the Christchurch CBD.

The original Library Chambers building was constructed in 1872-1873. The earthquakes severally damaged the building which required demolition. A new  6-storey commercial office building was conceived of. As a legacy project for the family’s late father, they wanted a 6-storey commercial office that their father would have been proud of. The performance of the building, budget and quality is everything, from end user feel, cost efficiency for running of the building through to the speed in addressing issues before the next large natural event. Spec X enjoy challenging the normal, therefore the façade needs to be something no one has designed, the quality of mechanical system, building performance through to construction methodology. Their scope was simple a) Budget is $33,000,000, b) They wanted straight fins running vertical up the building, and c) they want the tenants to feel like they are stepping from the past to the present when they enter the building from the lobby.

• Development budget is $33,000,000

• Development m2 rate is $4,600/m2

• Development duration is 3 years

• Completion of construction is due July/ August 2026

Join Aaron Boddington, Director and Andrew Searle, Property Development and Construction Consultant from Spec X to tour the development followed by refreshments.

**** ATTENTION*** All attendees are required to wear PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) on site for safety reasons.

UDINZ Summer Site Walking Tour of Te Kāinga Projects

Tuesday 19 February
4.00pm - 6.30pm
Wellington
Cost: UDINZ Member Free, Non-Member $80

Join UDINZ on a Summer Site Walking Tour of Te Kāinga projects.

Te Kāinga is a Council-led housing initiative that partners with private building owners to transform underused office buildings into high-quality, long-term rental apartments in Wellington’s central city. Through this model, building owners handle construction and ongoing maintenance, while the Council manages tenancies.

Hear first‑hand from the Council’s Housing Development team on how these collaborations are delivering stable, affordable rental options through office-to-residential conversions.

The tour will take you from Willis Street where there are three buildings (Te Kāinga Aroha, Te Kāinga Te Aka and Te Kāinga Te Pu), to the newest building at 49 Boulcott St (Te Kāinga Te Puna)

Join WCC and the development partner, Alex Cassels of Wellington Management Group to tour the development followed by refreshments.

UDINZ Summer Site Tour of Morgan & Midgley, Hobsonville

Wednesday 25 February
3.30pm - 5.00pm
Auckland
Cost: UDINZ Member Free, Non-Member $80

Join UDINZ on a Summer Site Tour of Morgan & Midgley, designed by Stevens Lawson Architects, built by Jalcon, and crafted for modern coastal living.

Morgan & Midgley, crafted in collaboration with Stevens Lawson Architects, brings together two distinct, yet complementary, coastal communities on Hobsonville’s eastern edge, Orion Point. Together, they offer a collection of homes that are contemporary, with intelligent layouts and a focus on quality.

Midgley is going to be a 62 home development that responds directly to the site’s topography, road connections, and coastal setting. It includes terraced homes along the northern boundary to create a formal “high street,” while the southern coastal edge opens into a looser, landscaped neighbourhood where detached houses enjoy views of the reserve and water beyond. The palette is one of timber, brick, and weatherboard which ties the homes together, creating a cohesive yet varied streetscape. Considered window placements, stepped façades and varied rooflines draw inspiration from coastal boathouse typologies, giving each home its own personality and seeking to cater for the desire for low-maintenance and enduring design.

Morgan will offer 79 homes on the coastal peninsula of Orion Point, including walk-ups, terraces, and standalone dwellings. Like Midgley, the homes are contemporary in style with coastal influences, layered facades, and carefully considered material palettes that reflect their location. From the formal “high street” zones to the relaxed coastal edge, every home enjoys unique perspectives and connections to its surroundings. Landscaped planting areas and a thoughtful street layout ensure an inviting, connected neighbourhood where each approach and viewpoint feels distinct.

Join Gareth Pasfield, Planning & Development Manager at JAL Developments Ltd to tour the development followed by refreshments.

UDINZ Innovation in Housing Series Webinar: Zipp - Transforming Client Communication in NZ’s Housing Sector

Tuesday 10 March
12.00pm - 1.00pm
Online
Cost: UDINZ Member Free, Non-Member $80

Join us on one of our first Innovation in Housing: "Thinking that's outside the box" Webinars of the year, 

Clear, consistent communication is one of the biggest challenges across New Zealand’s housing and land-development ecosystem. In this session, UDINZ welcomes Zipp—New Zealand’s award-winning client communication platform—for a practical look at how communication innovation can speed up delivery, reduce confusion, and improve client trust.

You’ll discover:

• Key insights into the communication gaps slowing projects down

• How consultants and contractors can make their workflows clearer for clients

• Real examples of improved client experience across surveying, engineering, construction and design

• New tools and thinking that simplify complex housing projects

Whether you’re a consultant, contractor, developer, or project manager, this webinar will potentially offer fresh, outside-the-box ideas to help you deliver housing projects with greater clarity, efficiency, and confidence.

Our Speakers:

Jarrod Renell:
As the Founder & CEO of Zipp, He is leading a global startup using AI to enable businesses to effortlessly communicate with their clients. They're transforming the client services industries by using intelligent automation and real-time, transparent insights to streamline every touchpoint. Their vision is to give everyone total transparency over their projects. The best client relationships are built on trust, which is built upon good communication. 

Peter Melrose:
Recognising firsthand the challenges that businesses face in managing client communications and streamlining operational workflows, he co-founded Zipp Software. As COO at Zipp, his mission is to empower businesses with intuitive, AI-driven solutions that simplify client interactions, enhance project visibility, and drive operational efficiency.

UDINZ Summer Site Tour of UniLodge

Wednesday 18 March
4.30pm - 6.00pm
Auckland
Cost: UDINZ Member Free, Non-Member $80

Join UDINZ on a Summer Site Tour of the UniLodge Auckland Central Student Accommodation project.

Designed by Ashton Mitchell, the 18-storey tower redefines traditional perceptions of student accommodation. Rather than focusing solely on compact private rooms, the project is deliberately structured around shared experience, wellbeing, and connection. A rich mix of communal amenities is distributed throughout the building, including communal kitchens, study spaces, library areas, music and hobby rooms, cinema facilities, gym spaces, and outdoor terraces. These shared environments are designed to encourage interaction and foster a sense of belonging for students arriving from across New Zealand and overseas. 758 Private apartments provide individual kitchenettes and bathrooms, with materials and detailing selected for durability, comfort, and long-term operational performance.

A defining architectural feature of the project is the integration of heritage and new construction. The restored 1929 Campbell House Art Deco façade has been carefully retained and expressed at the base of the building, anchoring the tower within Auckland’s architectural history while supporting a contemporary vertical form above. This approach reinforces a strong sense of place and continuity, acknowledging the past while contributing to the city’s ongoing growth.

Sustainability was a key driver throughout the design and delivery of the project. UniLodge Auckland Central has achieved a NZGBC 5-Green Star Design and As-Built rating, reflecting a holistic commitment to environmental performance and occupant wellbeing. Key initiatives include a high-performance façade and thermal envelope, efficient mechanical and electrical systems, water-saving infrastructure, and the use of low-carbon and responsibly sourced materials. Equal emphasis was placed on indoor environmental quality, ensuring healthy, comfortable living and learning environments for residents.

Developed by Cedar Pacific, managed by McConnell Property Limited, operated by UniLodge Living Group, and constructed by Icon, the project exemplifies a collaborative approach to delivering high-quality, sustainable urban accommodation. UniLodge Auckland Central stands as a considered response to student accommodation, demonstrating how architecture can support community, wellbeing, and long-term sustainability within Auckland’s evolving city centre.

UDINZ Summer Site Tour of Waiatarua

Wednesday 1 April
4.30pm - 6.00pm
Auckland
Cost: UDINZ Member Free, Non-Member $80

Join UDINZ on a Summer Site Tour of Waiatarua, Simplicity Living’s 330 home Build-to-Rent development in Remuera. The 1.4ha site is part of Auckland Thoroughbred Racing’s (ATR) land holdings at Ellerslie. The $280 million project will employ over 600 people at its peak on and off-site and is scheduled to be completed by February 2027.

Waiatarua will feature a rooftop resident work-from-home space, over 7,000 native trees and plants in extensive landscaped grounds, and a resident pavilion lounge and cafe. There will be comprehensive car and bike parks with electric charging units. Its location is just a 7-minute walk from the Greenlane train station, a supermarket and the Mercy Ascot hospital.

The development is aiming to be built to Homestar 7 standard, with a 150-year design life. It will feature solar panels, rainwater harvesting and a focus on minimising construction waste.

Join Sam Stubbs, Managing Director, Simplicity NZ Ltd to tour the development.

UDINZ L&D Offering:

UDINZ Subscription Service.

Subscribe HERE

Did you miss one of our Webinars?

🚀 Unlock relevant learning & development content for yourself or your team through our new UDINZ Subscription Service #SubUrbDev.

Gain access to pre-recorded on-demand webinars with industry experts, thought leaders, and innovators on topics of interest to the sector, to watch at your leisure.

Discounted access for individuals working for UDINZ Member organisations.

“Watch party” option for use in a group training session context (saves you all the effort of having to organise a speaker)

Subscription options:

UDINZ Member;
> Individual that is an employee of a UDINZ Member* - $20.00 per person (7 days access only)
> "Watch Party" for a UDINZ Member*  - $200.00 for “broadcast” at your group training session (available for your designated scheduled date)

Non-member;
> Non-member Individual - $100.00 per person (7 days access only)
> Non member "Watch Party" - $500.00 for “broadcast” at your group training session (available for your designated scheduled date)

*Employer details/membership number do need to be provided and email addresses provided must align.

Please note that for UDINZ Members (who are already supporting the organisations efforts – though annual membership fees) access is provided at a discounted fee level that seeks only to cover our administrative and licensing costs. Other subscription options look to recoup a fee for the time our staff put into curating relevant issues, advertising and delivering events and in the case of the watch party the administrative support required for liaising with you and your technical support team around enabling access for a specific date and time.

For any queries please email info@udinz.nz. Payment must be provided via this portal before content links will be provided.

UDINZ L&D Offering:

Water NZ Digital Badges

UDINZ has done a deal with Water NZ, so confirmed UDINZ members can access Water NZ Digital Badges at a 15% discount on market rates. If you’re interested in registering for any of the Water NZ Digital Badges you can register your interest here: 

Water New Zealand Digital Badges (office.com)

Please note : You register and then Water NZ will confirm with us that the person registering is employed by a UDINZ member.

In return we’ll be making our Decipering Development course available to their members at our member rates. A win win for both organisations! 

UDINZ L&D Offering:

NZGBC's Green Star Rating

We are seeking Expressions of Interest on our newest UDINZ Learning & Development Offering. A course to be delivered for us by NZGBC on their Green Star Rating. 

Let us know at the link below if you and/or your organisation would be interested in attending this course and where in the country you are located (or would be willing to travel to). Date and time will be confirmed once the course minimum is achieved.

This course will help participants better understand Green Star, build your knowledge on managing risk from the tendering stage through construction, and managing documentation for compliance. It will explore the delivery-centric credits often managed by those on the tools and also take a deep dive into sourcing and tracking sustainable and responsible materials, as well as specific credits including Exposure to Toxins.

You will learn how construction materials must be vetted for compliance against VOC and formaldehyde content, and the benefit of materials with higher consideration to environmental sustainability.

The course will also look at onsite practices including managing waste and compliant construction practices.

You'll take away hints and tips from past projects and how to ensure the best assessment outcomes. With increasing interest from the finance sector in supporting green, sustainable building projects, this could also help with your cost of finance!

This is a great way to add a competitive advantage to your bids and tenders. 

Presenters include:

• Ben Cannon, Sustainability Manager

• Clare Gallagher, National Sustainability Manager

• Joe Quad, Manager - Buildings and Communities

Click HERE to Express your Interest.

UDINZ L&D OFFERING:

Deciphering Development for Professionals Course

Contact us to discuss delivery of this course (it will be delivered periodically as a public course based on interest but is also available privately)

Register your interest for future course date please fill out the form at the link and we will be in touch: https://forms.gle/BpRCDSJ2QjSg8iad8

Objective:
Add value to professionals current expertise.
Educate those in consulting and contracting an appreciation for the development process with a view to improving relationships and understanding each other’s perspective in delivering world class residential property development projects.
Create improvement, consistency and collaboration in property development.

Audience:
This is a professional development course for those working in the architecture, engineering, construction and real estate sectors, and who wish to understand how property developer clients think and act. Held as an interactive workshop, attendees will gain an understanding of the fundamentals of property development and how successful projects are created and delivered by property developers.

Facilitated by:
The course is facilitated by Andrew Crosby with other guest speakers included from time to time.

We have secured a potential host for this course in the coming monthl and will confirm the course is proceeding once we have sufficient registered attendees.