MHRV – the heartbeat of a Passive House

MHRV – the heartbeat of a Passive House

Posted on by Team Wunderbar

STIEBEL ELTRON New Zealand supplied our LWZ 170 E Plus, the central MHRV system that quietly does the mahi while you relax. It constantly swaps out stale indoor air for beautifully filtered, purified fresh outdoor air… and it saves up to 90% of the heat from the outgoing air.

Basically: it inhales your humid, smelly kitchen‑bathroom‑laundry air and exhales fresh, crisp, German‑engineered goodness. The warm outgoing air passes through a clever heat‑exchange core that pre‑warms the incoming air without mixing the two streams. No mingling, no drama — very German. And the built‑in filters catch bugs, dust, pollen… wunderbar for anyone with allergies.

Now, our project was a bit of a curveball for NZ standards. Most Passive Houses here keep the MHRV inside the airtight envelope. But we said: Nein danke, we’re doing it the traditional German way, one dedicated Technikraum behind the garage with the solar inverter, hot water cylinder, MHRV, laundry… the whole efficiency party. The result? Our laundry/garage is so warm that we can hang up washing year‑round and even in winter everything dries without a dryer. Passive House meets Kiwi practicality — auf geht’s.

A massive thank you for the excellent support, clever problem‑solving Jason Kerr, Grant Anderson and to Brad and his crew at Efficient Air for a top‑notch, stress‑free install. Purified air is life‑changing for people with allergies — honestly, nothing beats it. Danke, team 💛

Efficient Air website: www.efficientair.co.nz
STIEBEL ELTRON Group — world‑leading German manufacturer of energy‑efficient heating, renewable energy, and building tech since 1924.

Passive House Conference 2026

Passive House Conference 2026

Posted on by Team Wunderbar
Wunderbar Passive House is grateful to have attended this year’s Passive House Conference in Auckland, and we’re incredibly proud to be recognised as one of only two certified Passive Houses in all of New Zealand that offer a guest room you can book for an overnight stay. More to come soon . . . 🙏
 
If science‑based data and decades of proven research still leave you wanting that final nudge, then it’s time to return to the simplest principle of all: FEEL IT and SEE IT with your OWN EYES.
 
 
Whether you’re a policymaker, politician, architect, builder, component supplier, or simply someone curious about the passive house that has existed since 1991, this is your opportunity. Give the experience as a gift to friends, offer it to potential clients, or book it for yourself. Staying in our guest room allows anyone to truly understand what a genuine healthy home feels like.
 
Housing is more than shelter; it is a foundation of dignity, well‑being, and human rights. Our home embodies this principle, delivering a living environment that is healthy, comfortable, and built to support people, not make them sick.
 
The conference itself was a highlight, especially the keynote from an international speaker Tomas O’Leary, MD of mosart from Dublin, who reinforced that building to the Passive House standard adds only a marginal cost in Ireland nowadays, yet delivers extraordinary long‑term value. A home should never compromise your health. It was sobering to hear how New Zealand spends enormous amounts each year on asthma and respiratory conditions, much of it self‑inflicted through poor housing standards.
 
We must do better. We cannot settle for less. Excuses are easy, but we only get one life and good health is priceless.
 
It was also a privilege to hear from #GrandDesigns’ Tom Webster and Peter Wolfkamp, and to reconnect with the Passive House industry experts who supported us through a long and challenging building journey. Jason Quinn Elrond Burrell, Richard Hollard, Jon Davies, Nathan Mill and the PHINZ Board Chair Joseph Lyth thank you. And to the new relationships formed, we look forward to what comes next. 🏡
 
 
 
A heartfelt thank you to the STO family!

A heartfelt thank you to the STO family!

Posted on by Team Wunderbar
STOanz Ltd supplied the interior and exterior plaster finish for our home (StoArmat with Lotusan) a system that requires virtually zero maintenance, as dust simply washes away with the rain. 👏
 
Our project was challenging because the first builder failed to deliver level surfaces of the ICF block system and STO stepped in with special anchors, additional mesh, and a plaster build‑up of up to 50mm on the exterior (normally only 10–15mm). In numbers, that meant three times more material than originally planned. 🤯
 
A massive thank you (Matthew, Sarah, Peter, Ben) for your extraordinary support, your problem‑solving, and to Jens and his crew from German Master Design for delivering a flawless finish (inspired by the spirit of my hometown region).
 
Since completion, people regularly stop to admire the exterior, and those who’ve seen the interior are amazed that such a plaster finish even exists in New Zealand. It’s truly unique. Thank you! 💛
 
German Master Designs website: https://www.germanmasterdesigns.co.nz/
 
STO, a major German manufacturer specializing in exterior facade insulation, building coatings, and acoustic systems: https://www.sto.co.nz/
 
The exclusive wall imprint design was created by Andreas R., a man so talented even the wall said “Danke, Bruder!” 🙏
A crispy winter day in a certified Passive House

A crispy winter day in a certified Passive House

Posted on by Team Wunderbar
Another crispy morning with 2.6°C outside, but a cosy 19.2°C inside with zero heating in our certified Passive House.
Every winter we hear, “Yeah, but does that actually work?” The answer is yes and our power bill is happy to back us up.
Some people need to see it to believe it. Others need to feel it. Fortunately, you can do both.
If you’re thinking about building, this is the ultimate standard. And if you need one final nudge, you can even book an overnight stay and experience it for yourself.
At the moment, there are only two certified Passive Houses in New Zealand offering that opportunity, so it’s a pretty exclusive way to test-drive the future is now of home comfort. 🏡 ❄️😎
Not quite Wimbledon — but definitely “Wunderbar‑don.”

Not quite Wimbledon — but definitely “Wunderbar‑don.”

Posted on by Team Wunderbar

German‑Kiwi Houseiversary Edition

Two‑year houseiversary and our backyard has finally stopped looking like a post‑apocalyptic construction zone. After hauling 1500 STO buckets (yes, we counted… we’re German), and walking 30km from the front to the back because heavy machinery took one look at our driveway and said, “Yeah nah,” we somehow survived.

Thanks to our legendary construction nightmare, we ended up reverse‑engineering half the project like two stubborn Bavarian engineers trapped in a Kiwi DIY show. Armed with nothing but hands, shovels, determination, and the kind of passion that makes neighbours question your sanity, we transformed chaos into our own little magic backyard.

And because we’re German enough to love precision and Kiwi enough to give anything a go… we even built a tiny tennis court.

Not quite Wimbledon — but definitely “Wunderbar‑don.”

We made the front page of New Zealand’s largest newspaper!

We made the front page of New Zealand’s largest newspaper!

Posted on by Team Wunderbar
📣We made the front page of New Zealand’s largest newspaper, the nzherald.co.nz, in late March – highlighting our construction nightmare.🙌
 
Industry experts have since described our case as a textbook example of a system failing ordinary families. While our situation is unique in its details, it is sadly not unique in its outcome. Following the article, more affected families and tradespeople have reached out, sharing similar experiences.
 
We sincerely hope the builder’s bankruptcy is extended until the outstanding debts are repaid. This could be the crucial gap that prevents us from losing our new home to the bank — something no family should ever face‼️
 
More importantly, we hope this sparks a broader conversation and finally drives long-overdue reforms to insolvency and bankruptcy laws. Reforms that have been discussed and lobbied for decades. The construction industry is a major pillar of New Zealand’s economy. Allowing bad actors to walk away without meaningful consequences is not the Kiwi way. It encourages reckless and unethical behavior, leaving families and hardworking tradespeople to carry the burden.
 
This is not just about one family. This is about fairness, accountability, and protecting everyday New Zealanders 💟.
 
Please don’t turn a blind eye to families who are bleeding out while the system stands still. Speak up 💯 and share your story to Ben (NZ Herald) for more voices to be heard.
 
 
 
 
Short stays in Passive House homes in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Short stays in Passive House homes in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Posted on by Team Wunderbar
 
We are thrilled 😁 as we are the 2nd overall and the 1st ICF residential certified Passive House in the country that offers a guest room for you to book and stay overnight.
 
Recently, my parents stayed with us and were absolutely amazed by the comfort and performance of our home. Their feedback has been incredibly positive, and it’s wonderful to see how much they enjoyed their stay. Additionally, we already have reservations lined up through February and into March, which is a testament to the growing interest in Passive House principles.
 
If you or someone you know is considering buying or building a Passive House, our home’s performance will speak for itself. We welcome anyone to book a stay and experience the benefits firsthand. This is a fantastic opportunity for architects, builders, component suppliers, and others in New Zealand to recommend our home to potential clients. Staying in our guest room allows them to truly appreciate what a genuine healthy home feels like.
 
Housing is more than just shelter; it is a fundamental aspect of well-being and dignity, an international human right. Our home embodies this principle, offering a healthy and comfortable living environment.
 
We look forward to welcoming you or your contacts to our home in Orewa. 😀
Our unique designed and not overheated attic space

Our unique designed and not overheated attic space

Posted on by Team Wunderbar
My two boys absolutely adore our unique designed and not overheated attic space in our certified passive house.
 
Our focus has always been to design a home that is practical, with well-thought-out storage areas, and a place where my kids can have fun and unleash their creativity in a safe and enjoyable environment.
 
A big thank you goes out to Natural Paint Co and Harrisons NZ for your exceptional support and excellent customer service in helping us finalize this special space.
 
This year has been quite a journey for us, marked by some significant challenges. We’ve navigated a recent cancer journey, faced a total justice failure from the MBIE’s insolvency lead team, and endured nearly three years of ongoing and costly remedial works at an apartment complex where we own a unit. Despite these hurdles, we remain hopeful and continue to work diligently towards securing our newly built certified passive house.
 
As we look forward to 2026, we aim to close out some of these uncertainties and move towards a brighter future. We wish you all a wonderful festive season, filled with peace, joy, and hope for a better year ahead.
 
Warmest regards
Wunderbar Passive House Team ❤️
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Auckland, New Zealand