Planning and Design

Active Investor Plus Visa Guidelines for New Zealand

10/11/2025

Our Active Investor Plus Visa Guide to Investing Your Way into New Zealand

The Active Investor Plus Visa allows foreign investors to live in New Zealand if they invest in approved businesses, managed funds, or property developments. This guide simplifies the rules and provides examples for international clients.

Ian Thompson

19/04/2025

What Has Grand Designs Taught Us?

It's perhaps no surprise that Grand Designs is one of my favourite TV shows. I was working in construction when it first screened in the UK some 26 years ago. What I believe was supposed to be a programme about design - by Kevin McCloud, an architect - actually turned out to be, for me, the first reality TV programme, even before Big Brother aired in Europe.

Ian Thompson

How Homes Survived the LA Wildfires: Design Strategies for Fire Resistance

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16/01/2025

How Homes Survived the LA Wildfires: Design Strategies for Fire Resistance

I've been reflecting a lot over the last week on the devastating LA wildfires, as well as considering other terrible events in Canada and Australia last year, and Lahaina in Hawaii in 2023.

Matt Risinger

Solar-Power-lessons-learned-after-1-year

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28/11/2024

Solar Power Lessons Learned After 1 Year

Today, we’re learning what solar power lessons Matt learned After 1 Year. We’ve followed Matt’s solar PV journey…

Ian Thompson

27/11/2024

Are Ground Screws The Foundation Choice for a Sustainable Future?

For decades, concrete has been the standard go-to solution for our house foundations, but there's an innovative alternative that's transforming how we think about building: ground screws.

Ian Thompson

27/10/2024

Self-Build Buyer’s Guide: Buying Land, My Top 15 considerations

As a buyer looking to build a new house, it is crucial to thoroughly evaluate the land you intend to purchase. The following guide provides essential considerations to help you make an informed decision about the suitability and offer you should make on development land. Consider the cost implications of each factor before making your offer to buy the land.

Matt Risinger

A Net Zero House Project Using an Off-Site Manufactured House. Was It Worth It?

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18/10/2024

A Net Zero House Project Using an Off-Site Manufactured House. Was It Worth It?

In today’s video Matt tells us what he learned after 1 Year living in his new net zero…

Ian Thompson