<![CDATA[Better places Aotearoa]]>Better Places Aotearoa is the podcast from the New Zealand Green Building Council (NZGBC), bringing you real conversations with the builders, designers, developers, policymakers and industry leaders shaping the future of how we build in Aotearoa.
Join hosts Matthew Cutler-Welsh and Sophie Ciurlionis as they explore the projects, ideas and people driving change across the built environment.

Healthier workplaces. Stronger returns. Warmer homes. Better performance. Better building makes sense. Across Aotearoa, more people are proving it every day.

From high-performance homes to commercial developments, community housing to urban planning, these are the conversations driving a more sustainable, healthier, and more resilient New Zealand.

Welcome to the conversation.

 

]]>https://riverside.comRiverside.fm (https://riverside.com)Fri, 11 Sep 2026 00:06:35 GMTThu, 27 Aug 2026 03:07:52 GMT60New Zealand Green Building Council (NZGBC)<p>Better Places Aotearoa is the podcast from the New Zealand Green Building Council (NZGBC), bringing you real conversations with the builders, designers, developers, policymakers and industry leaders shaping the future of how we build in Aotearoa. <br />Join hosts Matthew Cutler-Welsh and Sophie Ciurlionis as they explore the projects, ideas and people driving change across the built environment.</p><p>Healthier workplaces. Stronger returns. Warmer homes. Better performance. Better building makes sense. Across Aotearoa, more people are proving it every day.</p><p>From high-performance homes to commercial developments, community housing to urban planning, these are the conversations driving a more sustainable, healthier, and more resilient New Zealand.</p><p>Welcome to the conversation.<br /></p><p> </p>episodicNew Zealand Green Building Council (NZGBC)communications@nzgbc.org.nzno<![CDATA[The future of the built environment with Davina Rooney]]>This Better Places Aotearoa episode features Davina Rooney, CEO of the Green Building Council of Australia, discussing the changing built environment and sustainability lessons from Australia. The conversation covers the challenges of communicating sustainability, the importance of circularity in sustainable businesses, the role of property as a service, and the need for leadership and management in sustainability initiatives. It also delves into the adoption of electric solutions and the impact of voluntary market adoption on policy change.

Takeaways

  • Built environment transformation
  • Effective communication of sustainability requires balancing technical detail with language that people understand.
  • Circularity is crucial for the long-term sustainability of businesses in a predominantly linear economy.
  • Property as a service requires incentivising both building owners and tenants to see the benefits.
  • Leadership and management are essential for driving sustainability initiatives and creating a culture of a safe space for complex work.
  • Voluntary market adoption can influence policy change and lower minimum standards over time.

Chapters

  • 00:00 The Changing Built Environment
  • 01:28 Focus Challenges and Sustainability
  • 05:10 Sustainability Initiatives in Australia
  • 08:56 Lessons for New Zealand
  • 12:50 Improving Home Standards in Australia and New Zealand
  • 20:11 Driving Sustainable Change in the Built Environment
  • 25:33 Challenges of Communicating Sustainability
  • 29:16 The Importance of Circularity
  • 37:40 Property as a Service and Incentivisation
  • 42:43 Leadership and Management in Sustainability
  • 46:24 Adoption of Electric Solutions and Voluntary Market Adoption

Resources mentioned in this episode

The Circular Economy | Definition & Model Explained | Ellen MacArthur Foundation 

Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS) tools update December 2025. - Australian Housing Da…

Sustainability in Property 2025
www.gbca.org.au
worldgbc.org

]]>88b16f3d-02ba-485c-b90b-ea49e1e082e6Thu, 10 Sep 2026 05:57:58 GMT<p>This Better Places Aotearoa episode features Davina Rooney, CEO of the Green Building Council of Australia, discussing the changing built environment and sustainability lessons from Australia. The conversation covers the challenges of communicating sustainability, the importance of circularity in sustainable businesses, the role of property as a service, and the need for leadership and management in sustainability initiatives. It also delves into the adoption of electric solutions and the impact of voluntary market adoption on policy change.</p><p></p><p>Takeaways</p><ul><li>Built environment transformation</li><li>Effective communication of sustainability requires balancing technical detail with language that people understand.</li><li>Circularity is crucial for the long-term sustainability of businesses in a predominantly linear economy.</li><li>Property as a service requires incentivising both building owners and tenants to see the benefits.</li><li>Leadership and management are essential for driving sustainability initiatives and creating a culture of a safe space for complex work.</li><li>Voluntary market adoption can influence policy change and lower minimum standards over time.</li></ul><p></p><p>Chapters</p><ul><li>00:00 The Changing Built Environment</li><li>01:28 Focus Challenges and Sustainability</li><li>05:10 Sustainability Initiatives in Australia</li><li>08:56 Lessons for New Zealand</li><li>12:50 Improving Home Standards in Australia and New Zealand</li><li>20:11 Driving Sustainable Change in the Built Environment</li><li>25:33 Challenges of Communicating Sustainability</li><li>29:16 The Importance of Circularity</li><li>37:40 Property as a Service and Incentivisation</li><li>42:43 Leadership and Management in Sustainability</li><li>46:24 Adoption of Electric Solutions and Voluntary Market Adoption</li></ul><p></p><p>Resources mentioned in this episode</p><p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/topics/circular-economy-introduction/overview" target="_blank">The Circular Economy | Definition &amp; Model Explained | Ellen MacArthur Foundation</a> </p><p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://ahd.csiro.au/nationwide-house-energy-rating-scheme-nathers-tools-update-december-2025/" target="_blank">Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS) tools update December 2025. - Australian Housing Da…</a></p><p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.domain.com.au/research/sustainability-in-property-2025-1384255/?msockid=310d1ec2306f679b317e0823314566ce" target="_blank">Sustainability in Property 2025</a><br /><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://www.gbca.org.au" target="_blank">www.gbca.org.au</a><br /><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://worldgbc.org" target="_blank">worldgbc.org</a></p>no00:51:023The future of the built environment with Davina Rooneyfull<![CDATA[People, place and purpose with Sarah Hull]]>The conversation with Sarah, the Sustainability and Brand Director for Cooper and Company, covers topics related to the development and sustainability of the Britomart precinct. Sarah discusses the challenges and successes of restoring heritage buildings and the long-term vision of the company. The conversation also delves into the long-term planning and getting things done. The episode covers the sustainable refurbishment of buildings, the impact of Green Star ratings, the importance of public spaces, and the long-term vision for building design and development.

Takeaways

  • Sustainability in building development
  • Long-term vision and planning
  • Challenges and successes of restoring heritage buildings
  • Balancing long-term planning with getting things done
  • Sustainable refurbishment
  • Impact of Green Star ratings
  • Importance of public spaces

Chapters

  • 00:00 Introduction and Britomart Precinct
  • 02:17 Role and Experience at Cooper and Company
  • 04:40 Embedding Sustainability and Reporting
  • 09:56 Long-Term Vision and Planning
  • 15:11 Heritage Buildings
  • 23:07 Sustainable Refurbishment
  • 24:33 Green Star Ratings and Sustainability
  • 27:29 Public Spaces and Precinct Development
  • 29:51 Long-Term Vision for Building Design
  • 36:23 Future-Proofing and Sustainability

Useful resources
Britomart – Cooper and Company

Green Star Buildings NZ
Green Star Fitouts certification

]]>8a28f59d-e5f9-4913-bd07-3038d9b404bbThu, 10 Sep 2026 04:12:11 GMT<p>The conversation with Sarah, the Sustainability and Brand Director for Cooper and Company, covers topics related to the development and sustainability of the Britomart precinct. Sarah discusses the challenges and successes of restoring heritage buildings and the long-term vision of the company. The conversation also delves into the long-term planning and getting things done. The episode covers the sustainable refurbishment of buildings, the impact of Green Star ratings, the importance of public spaces, and the long-term vision for building design and development.</p><p></p><p>Takeaways</p><ul><li>Sustainability in building development</li><li>Long-term vision and planning</li><li>Challenges and successes of restoring heritage buildings</li><li>Balancing long-term planning with getting things done</li><li>Sustainable refurbishment</li><li>Impact of Green Star ratings</li><li>Importance of public spaces</li></ul><p></p><p>Chapters</p><ul><li>00:00 Introduction and Britomart Precinct</li><li>02:17 Role and Experience at Cooper and Company</li><li>04:40 Embedding Sustainability and Reporting</li><li>09:56 Long-Term Vision and Planning</li><li>15:11 Heritage Buildings</li><li>23:07 Sustainable Refurbishment</li><li>24:33 Green Star Ratings and Sustainability</li><li>27:29 Public Spaces and Precinct Development</li><li>29:51 Long-Term Vision for Building Design</li><li>36:23 Future-Proofing and Sustainability</li></ul><p></p><p>Useful resources<br /><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://cooperandcompany.org/new-zealand/britomart/" target="_blank">Britomart – Cooper and Company</a></p><p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://nzgbc.org.nz/green-star-buildings-nz" target="_blank">Green Star Buildings NZ</a><br /><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://nzgbc.org.nz/green-star-fitouts" target="_blank">Green Star Fitouts certification</a></p>no00:46:002People, place and purpose with Sarah Hullfull<![CDATA[Raising the standard with Peter Wolfkamp]]>This is the inaugural episode of the Better Places Aotearoa podcast with special guest Peter Wolfkamp. It covers topics such as craftsmanship, building performance, energy modelling, trustworthiness of builders, the role of designers, and future trends in the building industry. Peter emphasises the importance of going beyond the building code and the need for innovation and efficiency in home building. He also discusses the impact of AI, USB C charging ports, and garage carpet in homes.

Takeaways

  • Craftsmanship and passion drive better building performance
  • Energy modelling is essential for optimising building performance

Chapters

  • 00:00 Introduction to Peter Wolfkamp
  • 01:28 Craftsmanship and Home Building
  • 02:23 Craftsmanship vs. House Building
  • 03:22 Building Homes for Better Performance
  • 04:19 Designing for Efficiency and Performance
  • 05:13 The Value of Going Beyond the Building Code
  • 06:11 Energy Modelling and Building Performance
  • 08:38 Builders' Trustworthiness and Innovation
  • 09:35 The Role of Young Builders and Future Trends
  • 10:06 The Building Code and Aspirational Housing
  • 10:35 The Impact of Building Code and Energy Modelling
  • 31:27 The Role of Designers and Architects
  • 39:29 Future-Proofing Homes and Building Trends

Useful resources

Analysis of financial benefits of Homestar FINAL.pdf
Homestar Design Guide

Upcoming energy modelling courses
Events & Training

]]>99e29eaa-00e4-4eb5-b6fe-be6e58713ce8Tue, 08 Sep 2026 01:37:11 GMT<p>This is the inaugural episode of the Better Places Aotearoa podcast with special guest Peter Wolfkamp. It covers topics such as craftsmanship, building performance, energy modelling, trustworthiness of builders, the role of designers, and future trends in the building industry. Peter emphasises the importance of going beyond the building code and the need for innovation and efficiency in home building. He also discusses the impact of AI, USB C charging ports, and garage carpet in homes.</p><p></p><p>Takeaways</p><ul><li>Craftsmanship and passion drive better building performance</li><li>Energy modelling is essential for optimising building performance</li></ul><p></p><p>Chapters</p><ul><li>00:00 Introduction to Peter Wolfkamp</li><li>01:28 Craftsmanship and Home Building</li><li>02:23 Craftsmanship vs. House Building</li><li>03:22 Building Homes for Better Performance</li><li>04:19 Designing for Efficiency and Performance</li><li>05:13 The Value of Going Beyond the Building Code</li><li>06:11 Energy Modelling and Building Performance</li><li>08:38 Builders' Trustworthiness and Innovation</li><li>09:35 The Role of Young Builders and Future Trends</li><li>10:06 The Building Code and Aspirational Housing</li><li>10:35 The Impact of Building Code and Energy Modelling</li><li>31:27 The Role of Designers and Architects</li><li>39:29 Future-Proofing Homes and Building Trends</li></ul><p></p><p>Useful resources</p><p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://nzgbc.org.nz/hubfs/Research%20and%20reports/Analysis%20of%20financial%20benefits%20of%20Homestar%20FINAL.pdf?hsLang=en" target="_blank">Analysis of financial benefits of Homestar FINAL.pdf</a><br /><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://nzgbc.org.nz/homestar-design-guide" target="_blank">Homestar Design Guide</a><br /><br />Upcoming energy modelling courses<br /><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://nzgbc.org.nz/upcoming-events-courses-webinars" target="_blank">Events &amp; Training</a><br /></p>no00:42:451Raising the standard with Peter Wolfkampfull