One of the most important conferences for the sector in 2014, the Building a Better New Zealand conference is being held in Auckland from 3-5th September 2014.

It brings together a wide range of industry stakeholders including policy makers, innovators, researchers, industry leaders, designers and manufacturers to focus on research findings and case studies of best practice – review the full programme.

Success stories and case studies from New Zealand and internationally will show effective ways to build better cities and communities, improve the performance of existing buildings, meet the housing needs of New Zealanders and improve productivity within the wider building sector.

Keynote speakers include:

Richard Blakeway, Deputy Mayor for Housing, City of London. Richard is widely recognised as one of the UK’s most prominent authorities on housing and regeneration.  He has been a particularly strong advocate for high quality urban development and planning, arguing the case for new and improved housing conditions in one of the world’s leading global cities.

Dr Tim Williams, CEO of the Committee for Sydney, an independent think tank that develops 'big city' long-term and visionary thinking. Before coming to Australia in late 2010, Tim was recognised as one of the UK's thought-leaders in urban regeneration and economic development.

Johnny McFarlane, BECA, who was the project manager for the Cardboard Cathedral in Christchurch. Johnny specialises in complex projects requiring excellent management of technical risk and communication of issues - all skills that were used to great effect on the construction of the Transitional Cathedral.Stuart Niven, Principal Urban Design Advisor at Victoria State Government Department of Planning and Community Development.  

Jerome Partington, Sustainability Manager at Jasmax and Chair of Living Future NZ. Jerome recently facilitated the Te Wharehau O Tuhoe, the first Living Building project in New Zealand.

Professor Diane Brand, Dean of the National Institute of Creative Arts and Industries at the University of Auckland. Dianne's research specialises in the urban history of colonial cities in Australia.

Mahi Paurini, Chief Advisor for Maori Housing within the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.

Professor Jules Moloney, Head of the School of Architecture at Victoria University of Wellington.

Mike Underhill, Chief Executive of the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA) in New Zealand. EECA is the government agency that promotes energy efficiency and renewables across key parts of the energy sector.

In addition a wide range of industry and research papers will be presented in parallel streams. 

Conference themes cover:

• Building Better Cities and Communities
• Meeting New Zealander's Housing Needs
• Achieving Better Buildings
• Industry Case Studies
• Improving the Performance of Existing Buildings
• Productivity
• Improving the Performance of Materials.

Sustainability is a cross cutting theme of the conference and many sustainable and innovative building and community practices will be presented and discussed at the conference.  

Register now at  www.buildingabetternewzealand.co.nz