Two Bay builders win national honours

Two Tauranga builders won their own world cup on Saturday night when they collected national House of the Year awards.
Kuriger Builders Tauranga, a national finalist for the fifth time, captured the PlaceMakers Renovation under $250,000 prize at the Registered Master Builders gala dinner in Auckland.
Harwood Homes NZ was named the winner in the James Hardie Show Home category - for the second time in eight years, after being a finalist six times.
When Conrad Kuriger and David Harwood were presented with their awards, the All Whites soccer team was beating Bahrain to qualify for next year's World Cup.
"This is our world cup of building, you put in a lot of energy and you get a huge pride from winning," said Mr Kuriger who moved to Tauranga from Taranaki 12 years ago.
"You continue in business to keep raising the bar - standards keep improving all the time - and it's great to be recognised," he said.
Mr Harwood said there were 2000 Master Builders throughout the country, and to receive a national award was a once-in-lifetime experience because the competition was very tough.
"It's our equivalent world cup. You don't often walk to the stage and get an award - and you treasure the moment when it's happening," he said.
Harwood Homes won the award for its second show home which was finished in Rexford Heights, The Lakes, Pyes Pa west, in April. Its first show home in the same street sold earlier for $990,000.
The winning show home, with four bedrooms and three living areas, was built of natural materials - oak stained cedar pillars and carved Hinuera stone - and featured a master bedroom and en suite bathroom containing double vanities.
The judges said this was a classical contemporary home, designed and built around low-maintenance principles and some sustainable features.
"This house sums up what show homes are all about - superbly planned and laid out, building on the team's experience over many years, and providing future clients insight into how the builders understand homeowners' needs and aspirations," said the judges.
Kuriger Builders also won its second national award - the firm which also operates in Taranaki won the New Houses $450,000-$600,000 category in 2005.
This time around, Kuriger won praise for renovating a four-bedroom 13th Avenue house within its building structure and retaining its existing character.
"We wanted to come in and leave the place as if no one knew we were there," said Mr Kuriger. "We made sure everything moulded in, but we opened up the rooms and let more light in."
Kuriger created a new living area by building a north-facing deck, with access from the lounge and master bedroom.
The judges said the superb renovation transformed old living spaces into a new, spacious and light kitchen and lounge.
The said the timber joinery of the new deck was exquisite, as was the workmanship throughout.
The Kuriger team removed the chimney between the kitchen and dining areas to create more space, and they replaced old-fashioned yellow glazing with clear glass.