Naenae Pool Wins Second Award for Community Impact and Design

The newly reopened Naenae Pool + Fitness Centre has garnered its second major award, celebrating its community impact and sustainable design at the 2025 Wellington Property People Awards. The project, led by the Hutt City Council, received the prestigious Judges’ Choice Award, further solidifying its reputation for innovative and environmentally-focused architecture.

Less than a year since its redevelopment, which cost $68 million, the Naenae Pool complex has already made significant strides in national recognition. Earlier this year, it won a national architecture award and is noted as New Zealand’s first Green Star 5-rated aquatic centre. This facility includes features such as real-time performance tracking and expanded rainwater harvesting, shaped by extensive community engagement.

Recognizing Excellence in Design and Leadership

The Naenae Pool’s recent accolade was part of a broader celebration of excellence in the built environment at the annual Property Council Wellington Region event. Emily Newmarch from Warren and Mahoney received the Greenwood Roche Supreme Excellence Award for her transformative work in applying PhD-level climate research into practical, low-carbon design across various sectors, including health and aviation.

Retail expert Jim Wana was honoured as the Catalyst Property Professional of the Year for nearly 30 years of leadership in Wellington’s retail leasing and investment market. Recognizing teamwork and dedication, the Archives New Zealand project team, led by Dexus and the Department of Internal Affairs, earned the BBD Best Team Award. Their project involved delivering a base-isolated, high-performance archival facility, adhering to stringent seismic, environmental, and operational standards through a Māori-led design approach.

In the sustainability category, the Ngā Mokopuna project team from Te Herenga Waka–Victoria University of Wellington won the TSA Riley Sustainability Champion Award for developing a 3,000 m² mass-timber whare, which is on track to become one of approximately 35 fully certified Living Buildings worldwide.

Other notable recipients included Grant Heighway of Catalyst, who received the Rolle Property Outstanding Leadership Award for his major project delivery contributions, and Alison Pharaoh of Niche FM, awarded the Ortus International Long Service Award for her four decades of service in property management and industry leadership.

Leonie Freeman, chief executive of Property Council New Zealand, emphasized the core of the property sector: “Property is about people. From regenerative education spaces to retail revival and world-class public facilities, these recipients demonstrate expertise in meeting purpose. Their mahi is shaping a stronger, more sustainable Wellington.”

The ongoing recognition of the Naenae Pool highlights how community-focused initiatives can blend sustainability with impactful design, setting a benchmark for future developments in New Zealand and beyond.