Got a big idea for the future of New Zealand’s construction industry?
The Next Gen Awards are for students, cadets and apprentices ready to share it. They celebrate fresh thinking, emerging talent and people already showing real promise through their training, study and early experience.
Enter for your chance to be recognised and win up to $4,000.
Check out the 2025 finalists!
You can complete and save your online entry anytime.
How to enter
- Video: you will need to submit a short (1-2 minute) video entry telling us your big idea to shake up the building industry. Your idea doesn't need to be earth shattering or world changing - this is about showing your passion for the industry. You also don't need to be a videographer - a clip of you talking to the camera directly is totally fine. Not sure what to put in your video? Check out previous finalists video entries on You Tube to get an idea of the different approaches they took.
- Written: Along with your video you will need to complete a written component telling us a little about yourself.
- High-res photo of yourself.
Read the Entry Form Guidelines to get ready to fill in the online form.
Key Dates
Entries open - 14th April 2026
Entries close - 1st June 2026
Regional Finalists announced - 1st July 2026
Awards Ceremony in Tāmaki | Auckland - 14th August 2026
Eligibility
Entry is available to:
- Students and Next Gen Members of the Building Institute Aotearoa. Student membership is free for anyone enrolled in any construction-related tertiary programme, or in a recognized carpentry apprenticeship.
- Nominees who are not already Members can join via a two-minute online application; and
- In any year of study, full or part time
How it works
Stage One: Regional Finalists
- Next Gen members enter the Awards for their region (Southern, Central, Northern)
- Judges for each region assess the applications and select the top three regional finalists.
- Regional finalists (three for each region) to be announced 1st July 2026.
- The nine regional finalists will be invited to attend the Building People Awards, held in TĀMAKI | AUCKLAND - Friday, 14 August 2026.
- All nine finalists will receive one complimentary ticket to the awards. For finalists travelling from outside Auckland, the Building Institute will cover return flights to Auckland and one night’s accommodation on Friday 14 August.
Stage Two: Regional Winners & Supreme Winner
- Nine regional finalists will attend the Building People Awards, held in TĀMAKI | AUCKLAND - Friday, 14 August 2026 where winners will be announced.
- Judges will select one winner from each region.
- Judges also select one Supreme Award winner from the three Regional Winners.
Judging & Prizes
The supreme winner will receive an additional $3,000, on top of their category prize of $1,000 bringing their total prize to $4,000.
Supporting Partners
Contact
hello@buildinginstitute.nz
2025 winners
- Elle Graham - Diploma of Architectural Technology, Open Polytechnic of New Zealand, Tauranga | Bay of Plenty
- Sarah Shiella Skillen - Master of Architecture (Professional), Te Herenga Waka
– Victoria University of Wellington, Pōneke | Wellington
- Shanta Persad - PhD Civil Engineering, University of Canterbury, Ōtautahi | Christchurch
Read about them here.
