Next Gen Awards

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.

Congratulations to our 2026 finalists!

We are pleased to announce the finalists for the 2026 Next Gen Awards, showcasing the outstanding emerging talent within New Zealand’s building and construction sector.

View the list of finalists here. 

Key Dates

Entries open - 14th April 2026

Entries close - 5th June 2026

Regional Finalists announced -  1st July 2026

Awards Ceremony in Tāmaki | Auckland - 14th August 2026 
Purchase tickets

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.