Lifemark

19/05/2026

“This is our last home and the first one that we built. We designed it to live in forever.” Peter’s story shows how Lifemark® features can make a home safer, easier and more comfortable, not just for today, but for whatever the future brings.

Lifemark© worked alongside Green Homes New Zealand to help incorporate features like level entry access, ramped doors, accessible switches and internal garage entry. These details support ageing in place and make everyday living simpler.

This is a great example of how Lifemark© design can help people build a true “forever home.”

Watch the video on Green Homes' YouTube channel:

3 likes. "Forever Home Testimonial | Lifemark & Energy-Efficient Living | Green Homes NZ"

05/05/2026

A great example of Universal Design in action. Toitoi Living in Papatoetoe has earned an Accessible+ Lifemark® 5 rating, showcasing how accessible, stylish, future‑proof homes can be delivered at scale.

Watch the video tour and see how thoughtful design supports independence and comfort for residents: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zl4NIDg9A4s

Toitoi Living | 22 Great South Road, Papatoetoe

21/04/2026

The new kaumātua homes at Te Puāwaitanga o Ngā Waka highlight the value of integrating Universal Design from the very beginning of a project. Lifemark© partnered with Pragma Homes to provide technical guidance that helped shape practical, comfortable homes that support residents as their mobility needs change.

Features such as step‑free entry, wider circulation spaces, and accessible bathroom layouts ensure everyday living is safer and easier – and help residents stay in their homes for longer. It’s a great example of how Universal Design contributes to stronger, more connected neighbourhoods.

Read more about the project, here:

The new Te Puāwaitanga o Ngā Waka development in Enderley represents a significant step forward in community‑focused housing for Kirikiriroa Hamilton. Delivered by Pragma Homes in partnership with Te Rūnanga o Kirikiriroa (the landowner and a charitable housing provider), the project brings 45 ...

31/03/2026

Minor dwellings are becoming a bigger part of New Zealand’s housing conversation, especially with recent government changes allowing “granny flats” to be built without consent.

For developers, community housing providers, councils, and organisations, this shift opens up new opportunities to deliver small, flexible homes that genuinely support ageing in place and multigenerational living.

That’s why we’re proud to share this example from our Lifemark© Design Partner Green Homes New Zealand. Their new minor unit has been designed to the Sustainable Ageing performance (Lifemark© 4) level, making it a strong model for accessible, future‑ready small homes.

This level of Universal Design means the home is:

• Safer, easier movement throughout the space
• Layouts that support a wide range of mobility needs
• Design that adapts as residents’ needs change
• Practical features that improve everyday usability

As minor dwellings become more common, integrating Universal Design from the start will be essential to ensuring these homes are truly fit for purpose.

Watch the walkthrough from Green Homes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MyxWHVwFZ-0

If your organisation is exploring minor dwellings, infill housing, or age‑friendly development, our team can help you strengthen Universal Design outcomes from day one.

Get in touch to learn more: https://www.lifemark.co.nz/contact

2 Homes in 1! Our dual-living showhome features a striking raked ceiling and gently curved walls to create light, flow, and architectural sophistication from...

23/03/2026

Our refreshed Lifemark© newsletter is arriving at the end of this month, and it’s designed to keep you ahead in Universal Design. Each edition brings together sector insights, stories from standout projects, performance data from across Aotearoa, updates on Lifemark© services, and thought leadership from our team.

If you’re committed to creating homes and communities that work for everyone, this is the update you’ll want in your inbox.

Sign up now and stay connected with the latest in Universal Design: http://eepurl.com/gwnIYr


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16/03/2026

From concept plans to final sign‑off, Lifemark provides practical guidance to help you integrate Universal Design without compromising aesthetics or budget.

See how our assessment process works:

Want to set your project apart in the market and leave a legacy for housing in New Zealand? Learn how you can achieve with Lifemark® certification here.

09/03/2026

The best way to understand Universal Design is to see it in action. These Lifemark‑certified projects show how thoughtful design improves safety, comfort, and long‑term value.

Browse real‑world examples:

The Lifemark® team has decades of experience supporting Universally Designed housing projects in communities across New Zealand. Check out our portfolio of projects below to get inspired.

02/03/2026

Universal Design features are often low or no cost when included early, but expensive to retrofit later. The Design for Life brochure outlines the key features that make a home safer, more adaptable, and easier to use from day one.

A smarter design process starts here. Download your copy on this page: https://www.lifemark.co.nz/our-design-standards

23/02/2026

🔶 Free NZ Design Week event

If we want homes that support us long‑term, we need to rethink how we design them today.

This is the conversation Lifemark is bringing to NZ Design Week, where Sarah Daley, our Senior Advisor, will join the expert panel at Blum’s “Age Explorer: Designing Homes for a Lifetime” event next Tuesday 3 March during NZ Design Week.

As New Zealand’s leading authority on Universal Design in housing, Lifemark will be sharing practical, evidence‑based insights on what makes a home adaptable, accessible, and genuinely future‑ready. Sarah’s perspective reflects years of working alongside architects, designers, councils, and developers to lift the standard of housing across Aotearoa.

Hosted by our partner Blum, the event also offers a rare chance to experience the Age Explorer suit; a powerful way to understand how design choices impact people as they age.

RSVP to secure your spot:

Join Blum for an immersive and insightful event that explores how we can design for the future. A panel of experts – including a representative from Lifemark –...

16/02/2026

Great to see global attention on thoughtful, people‑centred social housing. London’s Mayor Sadiq Khan and architect George Clarke recently visited the new Wingspan Walk development – part of Haringey’s milestone of delivering 1,000 new council homes.

The video from their visit offers a closer look inside one of the homes and highlights how considered design can support everyday living. This international project embraces the same Universal Design principles that Lifemark champions every day.

Good design travels well, and it’s encouraging to see others lifting the bar too.

Watch the video: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DUSXKFNj033/