Annual awards celebrating the best in the business.
Recognising excellence in tiny house design
throughout New Zealand.
Voting has now closed.
Building a Tiny House is no small feat, yet every year, creative kiwis are designing and building some of the most unique and creative tiny homes around the world. The Tiny House Awards recognise excellence across three categories, with one clever cookie taking out the premier award: New Zealand Tiny House of the Year! Many designers and builders compete for these prestigious accolades each year, showcasing impressive and innovative designs.
Entries Open
27th May 2025 -
22nd July 2025
Public Voting
1st August 2025 -
26th Sept 2025
Judging Panel
30th September
2025
Winners Announced
31st October
2025
Prizes & Categories
Prizes & Categories
Semi-finalists from all categories will receive complimentary tickets to the Tiny House Expo where the awards will be announced live on Friday the 31st October 2025.
$500 prize
Best Commercial Build
Open to all commercially built tiny homes completed between 27th May 2024 - 2nd July 2025.
$500 prize
Most Creative Design
Open to all tiny homes completed between 27 May 2023 - 22 July 2025.
$500 prize
Best DIY Build
Open to all DIY built tiny homes completed between 27 May 2023 - 22 July 2025.
$500 prize
People’s Choice
Overall winner with the highest score from the public vote alone.
$2,000 prize
Tiny House of the Year
Overall winner with the highest score from both the public vote and the judging panel vote.
Judging & Criteria
Nominations close on 22nd July 2025. All nominations will then be open to the public to vote from 1st August 2025 - 26th Sept 2025. The 5 highest-voted entries in each category will make it through to the semi-finals. All semi-finalists will be judged by the Judging Panel on the 30th September 2025.
- Tiny Homes must not exceed 60m2 this does not include any lofts, decks, verandas, or porches.
- All Entries must be of tiny homes that have actually been built, we will not accept renders instead of photos.
- Tiny Homes can be on a fixed foundation, skids, or a trailer.
- The Tiny Home must have been built between 27 May 2023 - 22 July 2025.
- The Tiny Home cannot be entered if it has been entered into the Tiny House Awards in any previous years.
- Judging will be based on descriptions, photos and video tours supplied in the entry form.
- Judging will be based on the entire entry form not from any external websites or links.
- When sending photos make sure you include exterior photos and internal photos of each room.
- Commercial Builders can only enter up to a maximum of 5 different tiny homes into the Awards.
- Best Commercial Build Category can only be entered by the builder who built the tiny home, not the owner who brought the build off the builder.
- The Best DIY Build category cannot be entered if it was built by a professional builder.
- We reserve the right to accept or decline entries at our discretion.
Judges
Phae Barrett
Phae is the Co-Founder of Tiny Home Expos Australia. She is a strong advocate for tiny house regulations, often confronting councils and state leaders, as well as helping individual circumstances in favour of living in Tiny Houses. A single mother who has found herself couch surfing and unsustainably housed for many years, she is aware that as a 50+ woman, living in Australia, she is herself at high risk of entering the huge homelessness statistic that Australia so shamelessly holds, therefore she fights to pave the way for others.
Alison Metcalf
Alison is an architect with over 20 years experience, working both locally in Australia and internationally on a range of projects. After an extended caravanning holiday with her young family in 2020 and re-assessing what was important, Alison co-founded a Tiny House business 'Tiny Tect' with her husband. Tiny Tect has a strong design focus. TINY Houses, Big ArchiTECTure.
Briony Jenkinson
Briony is a Tiny House resident of 6 years over the pond in Australia, and has become one of the key figures in the Australian Tiny House industry. Her mission is to be a voice of hope and optimism, and she has inspired many to take the leap into Tiny House life. Briony runs the land sharing service ParkMyTinyHouse, the Tiny House Industry Awards and also the newly formed industry body Tiny House Industry Australia.
Angus Hamilton
Angus is the owner-operator of Tiny Towing Solutions, he’s a seasoned expert in the tiny house movement. Since 2021, his company has moved over 1,000 tiny homes across New Zealand, gaining unparalleled insight into their design and functionality. His extensive hands-on experience makes him a highly qualified judge for this year's Tiny House Awards.
Past Winners
2024
Overall Winner 2024
The Folks.
Best DIY Build 2024
Falcon Ridge
Best Commercial Build 2024
The Folks.
Most Creative Design 2024
Ridgeview Forest Retreat BnB
Peoples Choice 2024
Travelling Tiny NZ - The Cabin
2023
Overall Winner 2023
Karapiro Luxe
Best DIY Build 2023
Hygge House
Best Commercial Build 2023
The Mackenzie
Most Creative Design 2023
Rebecca's Custom Tiny House
Peoples Choice 2023
Karapiro Luxe
2022
Contact Us
The tiny house awards are run in collaboration with the Tiny House Hub, and the Tiny House Expo. You can reach our team by completing the contact form below or by emailing info@tinyhouseexpo.co.nz