Award-Winning Homes, One Growing Community: Paerata Rise Celebrates 2026 House of the Year Success
There is something special about seeing one home recognised for great design and craftsmanship. Seeing five Paerata Rise build partners recognised in the 2026 Master Builders House of the Year regional awards says something bigger about the community taking shape here.
From first home-friendly builds to premium family homes and show homes, this year’s results reflect the variety, quality and individuality that have always been central to the vision for Paerata Rise.
- Emandee Homes Show Home named a Regional Category Winner and received a Regional Gold Award in the GIB Show Home category
- Frame Homes named a Regional Winner and received a Regional Gold Award in the New Home up to $500,000 category
- Emandee Homes received a Regional Gold Award in the Bunnings New Home $1M–$1.5M category
- Platinum Homes received a Regional Gold Award in the GIB Show Home category
- Navigation Homes received a Regional Gold Award in the New Home up to $500,000 category
It is an impressive result for the individual builders, but it also reflects something Paerata Rise has worked to create from the beginning: a neighbourhood where quality homes come in many different forms.
A track record of award-winning homes
These results are part of a much richer story. Since 2017, Paerata Rise’s approved build partners have continued to make their mark in the Master Builders House of the Year awards, with builders who have entered the competition achieving recognition across regional and national levels. From regional Gold Awards and category wins to National Top 100 placements, the results over the years demonstrate a consistent commitment to quality construction and thoughtful design across the Paerata Rise community.
This year’s recognition builds on that track record, with Frame Homes and Emandee Homes both achieving National Top 100 finalist status, alongside the five regional awards secured across Frame Homes, Emandee Homes, Platinum Homes and Navigation Homes.
For a growing community, this consistency matters. It means homeowners have access to a group of experienced, award-recognised builders, while still having the freedom to choose a home that suits their budget, style and stage of life.
Designed for variety, built around people
Paerata Rise has never been about creating streets of identical houses. Set between Karaka and Pukekohe in Franklin, the township combines contemporary homes with the open feel of its semi-rural surroundings. Carefully selected build partners work within architectural guidelines designed to protect the quality and character of the wider neighbourhood, while still allowing for different styles, layouts and ways of living.
This is a balance of design and build that matters. A first-home buyer may want something very different from a growing family, a downsizer or someone creating their long-term home. The range of categories recognised in this year’s awards reflects that variety. Award-winning homes at Paerata Rise span homes priced up to $500,000, homes in the $1 million to $1.5 million category and show homes that demonstrate what is possible.
Around 4,500 homes are planned for Paerata Rise as the township continues to grow, but the vision extends well beyond the houses themselves. Parks, playgrounds, walking and cycling connections, community spaces and local amenities are all part of creating a place where people can feel connected to their neighbourhood.
Developed by Wesley College Trust and Grafton Downs Ltd, Paerata Rise has been created with a long-term view of the land, community and wider Franklin area. Its build partners play an important role in bringing that vision to life through homes that combine quality construction, thoughtful design and genuine choice.
The 2026 House of the Year results are recognition of that care and craftsmanship. This is not just one award-winning home, but award-winning homes across a growing community.
For people considering building at Paerata Rise, it is another reason to look closely at what is taking shape here: a neighbourhood where good design, quality homes and a strong sense of community come together.