Emily Newmarch named Supreme Winner; major civic and community projects also honoured
WELLINGTON — 14 November 2025: A sustainability-focused design leader, a retail market mainstay, and teams behind two landmark civic projects led the honours at the 2025 Wellington Property People Awards, held in the capital this evening.
Emily Newmarch of Warren and Mahoney was named Greenwood Roche Supreme Excellence Award winner after earlier taking out the Beca Young Achiever Award. The judges cited her “extraordinary impact” translating PhD-level climate research into practical, low-carbon design across sectors from health to aviation, along with sector education through NZIA and international speaking engagements.
“Property is about people,” said Leonie Freeman, Chief Executive of Property Council New Zealand. “From regenerative education spaces to retail revival and world-class public facilities, these recipients show expertise meeting purpose. Their mahi is shaping a stronger, more sustainable Wellington.”
The BBD Best Team Award went to the Archives New Zealand project team (Dexus; Department of Internal Affairs; RJHA; Warren and Mahoney; Tihei; Aurecon; NDY; Arup; WT; Holmes Fire; RCP; Stantec; Rider Levett Bucknall; Boffa Miskell; LT McGuinness). The six-year programme delivered a base-isolated, high-performance archival facility meeting stringent seismic, environmental and operational thresholds through a shared BIM ecosystem and Māori-led design approach.
In community infrastructure, the Judges’ Choice Award recognised Te Ngaengae Pool + Fitness in Naenae, stewarded by Hutt City Council with a multidisciplinary team (AECOM; Apollo Projects; Architecture HDT; Powell Fenwick; GHD; Boffa Miskell; Baked Design; The Price of Change; Barnes Beagley Doherr). The project set a national benchmark as New Zealand’s first Green Star 5-rated aquatic centre, pairing real-time performance tracking with expanded rainwater harvesting and deep community partnership.
Retail specialist Jim Wana was named Catalyst Property Professional of the Year. With almost three decades in the market—two of them focused on retail leasing and investment sales—the judges highlighted Wana’s sustained leadership in transactions that have shaped the city’s retail core.
The TSA Riley Sustainability Champion Award went to the Ngā Mokopuna project team (Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington; The Building Intelligence Group; Tennent Brown; LT McGuinness; 335; Dunning Thornton; Oculus; Rider Levett Bucknall; Tonkin + Taylor; Wraight + Associates; Hakaraia Designs). The three-storey, 3,000m² mass-timber whare is on track to be among ~35 fully certified Living Buildings worldwide, integrating energy and water systems, natural ventilation, material transparency and cultural design.
Recognising decades of industry service, Alison Pharaoh of Niche FM received the Ortus International Long Service Award for her four-decade contribution spanning property management, investment strategy, public-sector programmes and resilience work post-Christchurch earthquakes, alongside leadership roles that include initiating Women in Property in Wellington.
Outstanding leadership was also in focus, with Grant Heighway of Catalyst receiving the Rolle Property Outstanding Leadership Award for company stewardship, major project delivery and service on the Property Council Wellington Regional Committee.
Winners at a glance:
- Greenwood Roche Supreme Excellence Award and Beca Young Achiever Award:
Emily Newmarch, Warren and Mahoney - Catalyst Property Professional of the Year:
Jim Wana - BBD Best Team Award:
Archives New Zealand Project Team — Led by Dexus and the Department of Internal Affairs, and supported by RJHA as Technical Director, Warren and Mahoney, Tihei – Māori Design Lead, Aurecon, NDY, Arup, WT, Holmes Fire, RCP, Stantec, Rider Levett Bucknall, Boffa Miskell, LT McGuinness - Rolle Property Outstanding Leadership Award:
Grant Heighway, Catalyst - TSA Riley Sustainability Champion Award:
Ngā Mokopuna Project Team – Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington, The Building Intelligence Group, Tennent Brown, LT McGuinness, 335, Dunning Thornton, Oculus, Rider Levett Bucknall, Tonkin + Taylor, Wraight + Associates, Hakaraia Designs - Ortus International Long Service Award:
Alison Pharaoh, Niche FM - Judges’ Choice Award:
Te Ngaengae Pool and Fitness Team — Hutt City Council, AECOM, Apollo Projects, Architecture HDT, Powell Fenwick, GHD, Boffa Miskell, Baked Design, The Price of Change and Barnes Beagley Doherr
ENDS