The BEST episodes of Grand Designs New Zealand

Every episode of Grand Designs New Zealand ever, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of Grand Designs New Zealand!

Architect Tom Webster meets people all over Aotearoa who are challenging architecture, geography, sustainability, technology, and even standard building practices to create innovative, cutting edge homes.

Last Updated: 12/28/2025Network: TVNZStatus: Continuing

9.17

6 votes

#1 - Whanganui Mid-Century

Season 9 - Episode 8 - Aired 6/15/2025

A rambunctious retired bricklayer builds one final house, for himself and his ever-patient wife on their farm near Whanganui.

9.00

10 votes

#2 - Concrete Californian

Season 9 - Episode 3 - Aired 5/11/2025

A concrete, steel and glass citadel above a popular Auckland beach combines austere functionality with luxury living.

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8.43

7 votes

#3 - Loburn Lifestyle

Season 9 - Episode 7 - Aired 6/8/2025

A couple with peaceful retirement in mind, plan a rustic retreat in North Canterbury inspired by a Stealth Bomber fighter.

8.43

7 votes

#4 - Tennis Court

Season 9 - Episode 6 - Aired 6/1/2025

An old tennis court in Paraparaumu is set to become a couple’s new family home but the project lobs up a series of backhanders.

8.18

17 votes

#5 - Passive House

Season 7 - Episode 6 - Aired 11/22/2022

In Featherston, Swedish architect Josefine Watterson tackles the challenge of creating a Passive House for her young family in pursuit of both a more sustainable lifestyle.

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8.11

9 votes

#6 - Waikanae Rammed Earth

Season 9 - Episode 4 - Aired 5/18/2025

The dream of a sustainable rammed earth house at Waikanae risks crumbling in the face of building delays and steadily rising costs.

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8.09

11 votes

#7 - Waiheke Wonder

Season 9 - Episode 1 - Aired 4/27/2025

Plans for an elegant “empty nest” home on Waiheke Island are swamped by a sea of mud and a tsunami of rising construction costs.

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8.00

13 votes

#8 - Castello

Season 7 - Episode 7 - Aired 11/29/2022

In North Canterbury Phil Metaxas takes on the ambitious task of completing another man's dream - that of a post-modernist castle.

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8.00

6 votes

#9 - Lake Ōhau

Season 9 - Episode 2 - Aired 5/4/2025

A cherished family holiday home at Lake Ōhau is rebuilt after destruction and near-death experience.

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7.80

15 votes

#10 - Waitaki Valley

Season 8 - Episode 8 - Aired 12/12/2023

In the Waitaki Valley, Michael and Olivia Pavelitch discover they have their work cut out for them when they embark on breathing life into an historic rabbiters' cottage.

7.78

63 votes

#11 - Queenstown: Modern Day Castle

Season 2 - Episode 6 - Aired 10/30/2016

Christchurch earthquake refugees Andy Macbeth and Jo Denton build a modern-day fortress against the elements in alpine Queenstown.

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7.76

17 votes

#12 - Mahurangi Pohuehue

Season 8 - Episode 5 - Aired 11/21/2023

On a steep site in the wilds of Mahurangi, just north of Auckland, architect Felicity Brenchly is prepared to do whatever it takes to get their family home built.

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7.74

69 votes

#13 - 45° House

Season 1 - Episode 5 - Aired 11/1/2015

Chris meets architect Nic Ballara, who's planning to build a house on a steep 45-degree slope overlooking Wellington. Nic Ballara clearly has a head for heights as he starts to build a family home for him and his wife Callie and their 12-year-old daughter. Nic's site in the earthquake prone city of Wellington is so steep that it looks virtually impossible to build on, however Nic is convinced he has a solution and is determined to build his first home there. A logistical nightmare lies ahead as this Grand Design looks to be an uphill battle throughout.

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7.72

29 votes

#14 - Grand Tearooms Penthouse

Season 6 - Episode 1 - Aired 9/14/2020

Auckland couple Bridget and Steve Varney take on the challenge of converting Farmers' grand tea rooms built in 1930 into a New York style loft.

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7.72

18 votes

#15 - Dunedin Glasshouse

Season 8 - Episode 3 - Aired 11/7/2023

Eternal globetrotter Tessa Kingsbury’s dream is to convert an old Dunedin Sunday school into her forever home, but it comes with a twist – she’s incorporating a glasshouse into the heart of it.

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7.72

43 votes

#16 - Suspended Glass House

Season 5 - Episode 2 - Aired 9/18/2019

A site with a river running through it would put most people off. But not Harlem and Nicola who attempt to build a glass-house on a bridge over the water.

7.71

21 votes

#17 - Abel Tasman

Season 8 - Episode 1 - Aired 10/24/2023

Mark Ahearn and his Australian restaurateur wife Liz are taking time out from their hectic lives in Perth to build a legacy family holiday home in Abel Tasman.

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7.68

62 votes

#18 - South Brighton: Earthquake Rebuild

Season 2 - Episode 8 - Aired 11/13/2016

A terminally ill Christchurch man and his family are determined to stay in South Brighton despite on-going earthquakes, and the fact their house is being built on a sand dune.

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7.67

103 votes

#19 - Point Chevalier: The Concreteologist

Season 2 - Episode 1 - Aired 9/25/2016

Ross plans to create a towering home for his family on the cliffs of Point Chevalier. But after living on site for nearly 10 years, his family is now wondering if he'll ever get their home finished.

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7.67

12 votes

#20 - Queenstown

Season 8 - Episode 7 - Aired 12/5/2023

When John and Sharon Russell bought their vertiginous site above Queenstown for their shared-ownership holiday house, they thought their biggest challenge would be signing up other owners...

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7.65

93 votes

#21 - New Plymouth: Hemp Home

Season 2 - Episode 2 - Aired 10/2/2016

New Plymouth couple Greg and Gayle build one of the first hemp homes in NZ, and spend thousands shielding themselves against what they believe are the ill effects of electromagnetic radiation.

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7.58

65 votes

#22 - Kapiti Coast: Stilt House

Season 2 - Episode 4 - Aired 10/16/2016

Predicted sea level rises are not stopping architect Guy Marriage and his extended family from building a DIY Bach, only metres from the high tide mark on Wellington's Kapiti Coast.

7.55

11 votes

#23 - Container House

Season 7 - Episode 5 - Aired 11/15/2022

Tony Hodge discovers that building with the humble container is not as easy as he thought it would be on his unforgiving, vertiginous, bush clad site on Waiheke Island.

7.54

13 votes

#24 - Lake House

Season 7 - Episode 3 - Aired 11/1/2022

On the shores of Lake Tarawera, kiwi fruit farmers Stew and Gill Moss are building a final family home in time for Gill's 60th birthday party.

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7.49

41 votes

#25 - Burnt Timber Pavilion

Season 5 - Episode 1 - Aired 9/11/2019

Shane and Tina Nicholls design a unique family home using Japanese burnt timber and Scandinavian brick, a special memorial garden, views over the gulf, a wine cellar, a pool, and much more – it’s a truly international affair.

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