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Several Bay of Plenty and Taupō homes have made the Top 100 in this year's Registered Master Builders House of the Year competition.
Homes in Mount Maunganui, Tauranga, Pāpāmoa, Pyes Pā, Matua, Ōmokoroa, Athenree Gorge and Kinloch were included in the list.
A Reside Construction home in Ōmokoroa was included in the Resene New Home category for homes over $2 million.
Representing the top entrants in this year's regional competitions held in July and August, the top 100 homes will now be re-judged by the national judging panel to find out who will take out the national awards in November.
Registered Master Builders chief executive David Kelly said each year they were blown away by the levels of craftsmanship and innovation delivered by Master Builders across the country.
"The awards are an opportunity to recognise their skills in delivering quality homes for New Zealanders," he said.
This year the regional competition had over 347 entries across 11 regions.
Local plumber takes regional title at the Young Plumber Of The Year competition
Tauranga plumber Haven Bellamy of Bell Plumbing has been named as the Bay Of Plenty/Central Plateau regional finalist for the Young Plumber of the Year 2021 competition.
The competition, held prior to lockdown at the Tauranga Plumbing World branch, saw 10 local plumbers compete for the chance to represent their region at this year's finals as well as win an impressive prize pack.
Participants completed a series of 11 plumbing disciplines, which are assessed by a panel of judges, in addition to a written test.
The competition recognises excellence among young plumbers, who must be aged no more than 31 years old to compete and fosters camaraderie and pride within the industry.
As a regional finalist, Haven is among the top 10 plumbers from across New Zealand who will participate in the national finals held in Hamilton later this year.
Haven said he was elated to have won and was looking ahead to the national competition.
"The standard of all the competitors this year was really high, which is great for our region.
"I'm super excited to have won this time around as I've competed a few times before, so now I'm really looking forward to heading to the finals later on this year to represent Bay of Plenty."
Mt Maunganui Plumbing World branch manager Matt Withington said it was a very well-deserved win and a reflection of Haven's skills and expertise.
"Haven is exceptional both on and off the tools and we're stoked to see him make it to the top level of Young Plumbers. Watch out, Haven can take this out!"
Regional winners receive a prize pack including $200 Prezzy card, $250 worth of NZPM shares, a 17pc Holesaw set with bonus BBQ knife set, Rothenberger Tool pack system, a Coast USB pure beam headlamp and other great prizes.
In its fourth year, the national competition, held by Plumbing World New Zealand, supports young and up-and-coming talent in the New Zealand trade industry.
Forsyth Barr joins BOP Sports Awards as nominations open
Leading investment services firm Forsyth Barr has joined the Bay of Plenty Sports Awards as naming rights sponsor just as nominations open for the 2020-2021 period.
Forsyth Barr Tauranga branch manager David McConnochie said the firm had a long-standing commitment to supporting schools, clubs and community organisations across the country.
McConnochie said the firm was sponsoring the awards to acknowledge and honour the important work of the sport and recreation community in contributing to the wellbeing of people in the Bay of Plenty.
"The sports awards are a fantastic community event. They do an important job in acknowledging the achievements and contributions of many very hard-working people.
"They are also a great chance for the broader sporting community to come together, to share, to learn, and to celebrate. We're delighted to be involved."
Nominations for the 2021 Forsyth Barr Bay of Plenty Sports Awards are now open.
Several new categories have been introduced to help celebrate the achievements from community sport and recreation organisations through to Olympic champions, such as Community Organisation of the Year and Innovation in Sport and Recreation.
Other new categories include Young Disabled Sportsperson of the Year for athletes aged 16 to 21 and Disabled Sportsperson of the Year for athletes over age 21.
Nominations for the 2021 Forsyth Barr Bay of Plenty Sports Awards close midday October 8. Visit sportbop.co.nz/sportsawards for category details and criteria and to submit a nomination.
A gala dinner and celebration will be held at the Rotorua Energy Events Centre on November 19.
Record gains and very little pain for New Zealand property sellers
New Zealand homeowners are pocketing a record level of gross profits from property resales as the country's real estate market defies last year's weak economic outlook.
CoreLogic's quarterly Pain & Gain report shows the proportion of New Zealand properties being resold for a gross profit was 99 per cent in the three months to June 2021.
This is the highest on record, up from the previous high of 98.9 per cent recorded in the first quarter of the year.
In the Bay of Plenty, Rotorua residents who resold their home in the second quarter of 2021 made a median profit of $328,500 per property.
The city's gross profit from resales between April 1 and June 30 this year was $62,817,822. No properties were resold at a loss.
Tauranga residents who resold their home in the second quarter of 2021 made a median profit of $437,500 per property.
The city's gross profit from resales between April 1 and June 30 this year was $188,046,504. No properties were resold at a loss.
CoreLogic's chief property economist Kelvin Davidson said the extraordinary gains are a stark contrast to the housing market crash predictions made in mid-2020 at the height of Covid-19's first wave.
In the 25-year history of the data series, he said there have never been as many resellers, in proportional terms, making gross profits from real estate sales.
"The strength and resilience of the market reflects the support measures for the wider economy that were put in place by the New Zealand Government alongside very low mortgage rates, which have pushed property values sharply higher," Davidson said.
"The June quarter results are on top of previous gains, which means anyone who's held their property for the traditional seven to 10-year period will inevitably sell for substantially more than they paid."
Nationally the median resale gain in the three months to June 30, 2021 was $347,500 – a new record high. In contrast, the median resale loss was just $20,000 for the same period.
Davidson emphasised these 'profits' would have been accumulated over many years and not just during the post-Covid phase.
He also noted the majority of owner-occupiers would typically need to recycle the equity to afford their next purchase, which is likely to have also increased sharply in value.
"The current level of 'pain' in the market is more like being tickled with a feather than a serious cut."
"This may remain the case for a few quarters yet. Anybody who's owned a property for a series of years should still make a significant profit, even if the low-probability scenario of falling house prices came to fruition."
YSAR Trust receives support from Mazda Foundation
Tauranga-based YSAR Trust was among the 20 recipients to receive funding from the latest round of the Mazda Foundation 2021 grants, which distributed almost $80,000 back to the community.
The Mazda Foundation charity has gifted back more than $4 million to local communities like YSAR Trust which received a grant of $3790 towards the purchase of two defibrillators.
The defibrillators, one for each of its branches, has enabled them to offer immediate assistance for sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) emergencies.
YSAR Trust volunteer Maureen Chaytor said the trust provides youth training for 14–18-year-olds of all ethnicities to enable them to volunteer as trained search and rescue leaders in SAR organisations.
"We exist to empower the next generation of community-minded volunteers. To achieve this, we are enabling adventure through our leading-edge search and rescue and emergency management programme.
"Saving lives is core to our programme as is youth development."
Mike Sang welcomed to BRANZ Board, Alan Bickers reappointed
Mike Sang has been appointed to the BRANZ Group Board of Directors.
BRANZ is an independent research organisation providing impartial, evidence-based advice to industry and government on critical issues in building and construction in New Zealand.
BRANZ chairwoman Dr Helen Anderson said they were "delighted" to welcome Sang to the board.
"BRANZ is committed to fostering a building system that delivers better outcomes for all in Aotearoa New Zealand.
"Our ambition for the sector and our passion for industry transformation demand robust governance skills, informed by a knowledge of innovation, co-creation and systems thinking. Mike will contribute significant expertise, insight and experience to the task."
Sang brings more than 20 years' experience working with, and on, boards as a non-executive director, chief executive and chief financial officer.
His roles have been across multiple sectors including infrastructure, property, transport and agriculture and with listed, SOE and family businesses.
Alan Bickers has also been reappointed to the BRANZ Board.
"We're delighted to continue to have Alan's experience and expertise as we head into the $40-million campus redevelopment build project over the next three years."
Bickers has had a lengthy career in civil engineering, management, consulting and governance. He joined the BRANZ Board in 2015 and is currently chair of the Campus and Asset Management Plan Committee of the Board.
Western Bay of Plenty District could have fewer councillors to vote for next election.