Herriot Melhuish O'Neill Architects

What Herriot Melhuish O'Neill Architects does

Herriot Melhuish O'Neill Architects (HMOA) is a privately-held New Zealand architecture firm founded in 1997 by directors John Melhuish and Max Herriot. The practice operates as a multi-studio connected firm with five regional offices across Auckland, Tauranga, Wellington (headquarters), Christchurch, and Queenstown/Wānaka, employing 11-50 staff. HMOA delivers full architectural services spanning residential design (new homes, townhouses, apartments, renovations, heritage restoration, holiday houses, mid-century modern renovations) and commercial architecture (multi-unit housing, commercial interiors, cultural and educational facilities, public infrastructure, adaptive reuse, master-planning, and film studios). Its service model runs through a documented seven-stage process from pre-design brief through concept design, detailed design, procurement, construction administration, and post-construction handover.

The firm's core technology is industry-standard architectural design and documentation software; no proprietary technology stack, AI/ML capabilities, or patents are disclosed. Revenue is generated exclusively through professional services — fees quoted per project based on scope and complexity — with no standardised public pricing. The practice's commercial engine rests on director-led client engagement, referrals, and an award-winning project portfolio, supported by a marketing mix of website portfolio, earned media in design publications (Home, HERE, Abode, Architecture NZ, Stuff), ongoing NZIA awards participation, and a newsletter funnel with a downloadable residential guide as lead magnet.

HMOA's competitive positioning is built on three pillars: (1) a 27-year NZIA award track record across residential, heritage, interior architecture, public architecture, and urban design categories; (2) deep specialisation in heritage restoration and seismic strengthening — particularly relevant in post-2011-quake Canterbury and seismic-prone Wellington; and (3) repeat enterprise relationships (Trade Me fit-outs in three offices, NZX, FNZ). The firm holds no external funding, no parent company, and operates as an independent professional partnership led by named registered architects. Named clients span government (Kāinga Ora, Navy Museum, NZ Academy of Fine Arts), enterprise (Trade Me, NZX, FNZ, Silverscreen Productions), education (Victoria University of Wellington, St Bede's College), and nonprofit (Māori Women's Welfare League, Māori Women's Development Inc.).

Name

Herriot Melhuish O'Neill Architects

Legal name

Herriot Melhuish O'Neill Architects

Website

https://hmoa.net.nz

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Herriot Melhuish O'Neill Architects is a private New Zealand architecture firm founded in 1997, operating five studios across Auckland, Tauranga, Wellington, Christchurch, and Queenstown/Wānaka, providing residential and commercial design with specialisations in heritage restoration and earthquake strengthening.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architectural Design Services

NAICS

Architectural Services (54131), Residential Remodelers (236118), Interior Design Services (54141), New Multifamily Housing Construction (except For-Sale Builders) (236116)

SIC

General Bldg Contractors - Residential Bldgs (1520), General Bldg Contractors - Nonresidential Bldgs (1540)

akta.pro primary industry

Architectural Design Services (BPAHAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Whole-Home Interior Renovation (Non-Structural) (HSAPAEAC), Multi-Family Residential Construction (Apartments, Condos, Townhomes) (IMAFABAB)

Keywords

• Architectural design services
• Residential architecture design
• Commercial architecture design
• Heritage restoration architecture
• Earthquake strengthening design

Headquarters

HQ city

Wellington

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Architecture and Design Services: HMOA generates revenue by providing architectural design and contract administration services for residential and commercial projects. Services span from initial concept through to post-construction, covering new builds, renovations, heritage restoration, earthquake strengthening, and multi-unit housing developments. Fees are typically quoted per project based on scope and complexity.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Herriot Melhuish O'Neill Architects provides architectural design, documentation, and contract administration services for residential, commercial, and public projects across New Zealand. Services span new homes, townhouses, apartments, renovations, heritage restoration, earthquake strengthening, commercial interiors, adaptive reuse, cultural and education facilities, master-planning, and infrastructure projects, delivered through five regional studios operating as one connected practice.

Product overview

Herriot Melhuish O'Neill Architects (HMOA) is an award-winning New Zealand Institute of Architects (NZIA) practice established in 1997, offering a comprehensive portfolio of architecture services across two main categories: Residential Architecture Services (new houses, townhouses, apartments, renovations, heritage, holiday homes, studios, mid-century homes) and Commercial Architecture Services (multi-unit housing, commercial interiors, strengthening and heritage, master-planning, cultural, sport/gyms, adaptive reuse, public architecture, education, film studios). The firm operates as a single connected practice with studios in Auckland, Tauranga, Wellington, Christchurch, and Queenstown/Wānaka, supported by a structured seven-stage design process from pre-design through to post-construction. The practice specializes in heritage restoration and earthquake strengthening, with particular expertise in adaptive reuse of existing buildings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Residential Architecture Services

Quantifiable outcome

• Multiple NZIA New Zealand Awards, Regional Awards, and Local Awards spanning 1999 to 2023 across housing, heritage, public architecture, interior architecture, and urban design categories
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Kāinga OracoreOthers · 1 December 2024Crown state housing agency that partly underwrote the Sero Apartments development in Henderson, Auckland. HMOA designed the 20-storey, 115-unit apartment development featuring a 20-level automated car stacker. Kāinga Ora underwrite valued at $48.5m for the project.
• CMP ConstructioncoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 December 2024Construction company undertaking foundation works on the Sero Apartments project in Henderson, Auckland, where HMOA designed a 20-storey development with 115 units and a 20-level car stacking system.
• Opus International ConsultantscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHMOA worked in association with Opus International Consultants on the Newmarket Railway Station Development (NZIA New Zealand Award 2011) and the National Museum of the Royal New Zealand Navy at Torpedo Bay, Auckland. Both projects were large-scale public infrastructure and cultural projects requiring civil and structural engineering expertise.
• Marmol Radziner and AssociatescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLos Angeles-based architectural practice Marmol Radziner and Associates partnered with HMOA on the Hawkesbury Manager's House in Wānaka — a Californian modernist-style home designed for a Central Otago setting. The project won an NZ Institute of Architects regional award.
• Ken Davis ArchitectsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with Ken Davis Architects on the Recreation Centre at Victoria University of Wellington, a comprehensive redevelopment project requiring multidisciplinary expertise.
• Studio Pacific ArchitectureminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHMOA worked alongside Studio Pacific Architecture on the Pod Café in Wellington, with SPA as architects for the building and HMOA responsible for the café interior design.
• LT McGuinnesscoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerConstruction company partner on the Harbour City Centre heritage strengthening and refurbishment project (a 7,000 sq metre heritage-listed building over three years). Complex staging of work programme minimised disruption to adjoining tenants.
• Dunning ThorntoncoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerStructural engineers on the Harbour City Centre seismic strengthening project, working with HMOA and LT McGuinness to bring the heritage building up to 100% of code.
• Engineering Design ConsultantsminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerStructural engineering consultancy working alongside HMOA on the Fendalton House earthquake restoration project in Christchurch.
• Robert Watson Landscape ArchitectsminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLandscape architect on the Fendalton House restoration, responsible for carefully reviving the garden grounds of the heritage property.
• Higgs ConstructionminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerBuilder for the Fendalton House restoration following extensive damage from the 2011 Christchurch earthquake, including offsite restoration of the top storey.
• Thorne GroupminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerBuilder for Pukehina House — a modern beach house in the Bay of Plenty designed as replacement for a family bach, incorporating linked cedar pavilions.
• Gezellig InteriorsminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerInterior designer collaborating with HMOA on Pukehina House, a new beach house with natural cedar palette and brise-soleils designed to embrace sea and estuary views.
• OutsideInminorOthersSupplier of maintenance-free moss wall panels used in FNZ's Wellington headquarters café space, adding natural softness to the interior environment.
• Holmes ConstructioncoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerConstruction partner for the Kāinga Ora Hanson St social housing project — a five-storey, 20-apartment development requiring very clever planning on a limited budget to maximise quality of life for tenants.
• Local Landscape Architecture CollectiveminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLandscape architecture partner on the Kāinga Ora Hanson St social housing project, responsible for communal garden spaces and outdoor area design.
• Light StudiominorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLighting designer collaborating with HMOA on FNZ's Wellington headquarters interior fit-out.
• EuroplanminorOthersFurniture supplier for FNZ's Wellington headquarters fit-out, providing New Zealand-designed or made furniture of natural materials.
• Tim Webber DesignminorOthersCustom furniture designer collaborating with HMOA on FNZ's Wellington headquarters fit-out.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• RTA Studio: NZ architecture practice with offices in Auckland and other centres, focused on multi-unit residential, commercial, and public work. HMOA director Matt Robinson is identified in the data as a former RTA Studio architect, indicating direct comparable practice focus.
• Fearon Hay Architects: Auckland-based NZ architecture firm focused on high-end residential, commercial interiors, and adaptive reuse projects. Comparable to HMOA in scale, residential specialisation (including mid-century renovation), and interior architecture work.
• Studio Pacific Architecture: Wellington-headquartered NZ architecture firm working across residential, commercial interiors, public architecture, and adaptive reuse. HMOA's data explicitly lists Studio Pacific Architecture as a co-development partner on the Pod Café project, indicating comparable practice and direct market overlap in Wellington.
• Cheshire Architects: Auckland-headquartered NZ architecture firm with a strong residential, commercial, and public portfolio and multiple NZIA awards. Comparable to HMOA in design reputation, residential expertise, and NZIA award trajectory.
• Warren and Mahoney: One of New Zealand's largest and longest-established architecture practices, with offices across NZ and Australia covering residential, commercial, heritage, healthcare, and public architecture. Closely comparable to HMOA in scope (heritage, residential, commercial interiors, public) but at significantly greater scale.
• Athfield Architects: Long-established Auckland-based NZ architecture practice with a strong residential, public, and heritage portfolio. Comparable to HMOA in design-led reputation, NZIA award record, and breadth across residential and public work.
• Architectus: Australia and New Zealand architecture practice with studios in Auckland, Wellington, Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane, covering residential, commercial, public, and urban design. Closely comparable in multi-studio ANZ model, public architecture work, and design-led reputation.
• Leuschke Group Architects: NZ architecture firm with experience in large-scale commercial and multi-unit residential developments. HMOA director Matt Robinson is identified in the data as a former Leuschke Group architect, indicating directly comparable practice focus on multi-unit and commercial briefs.

Regional players

• Plus Architecture: Australian architecture practice with offices across Australia and a focus on large-scale commercial, multi-unit residential, and mixed-use developments. HMOA director Matt Robinson is identified in the data as a former Plus Architecture architect, and the practice's multi-unit focus directly overlaps with HMOA's commercial apartments work.
• Bates Smart: One of Australia's oldest architecture practices, covering commercial, residential, heritage, and public architecture across major Australian cities. Comparable to HMOA in practice scope and design-led approach, but operates primarily in Australia rather than competing directly in NZ.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/herriotmelhuisharchitecture
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/herriot-melhuish-oneill-architects

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Herriot Melhuish O'Neill Architects