What Passive House Institute New Zealand does

Passive House Institute New Zealand (PHINZ, Te Tōpūtanga o te Whare Korou ki Aotearoa) is a New Zealand charitable trust established in 2017 that serves as the country's designated representative for the international Passive House Standard defined by the Passivhaus Institut in Germany. Its mission is to increase awareness of high-performance buildings through research, education, and building-industry engagement, and it serves three principal stakeholder groups: certified Passive House professionals (~127 member organisations across architecture, engineering, construction, and component supply), homeowners/property developers seeking Passive House services via the public member directory, and the public sector engaging on building standards and energy efficiency policy.

The core product portfolio centres on PHPP (Passive House Planning Package), an Excel-based energy-modelling tool resold by PHINZ under licence from Passivhaus Institut and now recognised for NZ Building Code H1/VM1 compliance. Supporting PHPP, PHINZ delivers formal certification training through Passive House Academy NZ (a PHINZ project operating on Moodle), covering Certified Passive House Designer/Consultant (CEPH1, 9-week online) and Tradesperson tracks plus specialist workshops. Additional products and services include the online Member and Associate Directory, a Project Submission System, the annual Passive House Conference/Hui, eight regional Local Chapters, downloadable resources including the HPCD Handbook, a structured annual Webinar Series (20 sessions in 2025), and PHPP software distribution via the online shop (NZD pricing inclusive of GST, processed via Stripe).

The business model is a diversified non-profit revenue mix: recurring membership and sponsorship fees from certified members, associates, and corporate sponsors; one-time and cohort-based training fees; perpetual PHPP software licence sales; event registration revenue (Hui/Conference/Hui plus chapter events); donations; and partnership value delivered through formal relationships with Passivhaus Institut (Germany), the International Passive House Association (iPHA), and NZIA. Go-to-market is community-led and education-driven rather than consumer-marketing-led, with six full-time staff (led by General Manager Nikki Kruger), a seven-member Board, and eight volunteer Local Chapter Leads distributing engagement across New Zealand's regions.

Name

Passive House Institute New Zealand

Legal name

Passive House Institute New Zealand (PHINZ)

Website

https://passivehouse.nz

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

PHINZ is a New Zealand charitable trust promoting the Passive House Standard through professional certification, training via Passive House Academy NZ, PHPP software distribution, and an 8-region chapter network serving ~127 member architecture, engineering, construction, and supplier firms.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Wellington

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: PHINZ operates as a charitable trust with certified members, associates, and sponsors who pay membership fees. Members include architects, designers, engineers, construction companies, tradespersons, and component suppliers.
2. Training and Certification Courses: Formal Passive House training provided through Passive House Academy NZ (a PHINZ project), including Certified Passive House Designer/Consultant and Tradesperson courses.
3. Software Sales (PHPP): PHINZ sells PHPP (Passive House Planning Package) software and related materials. Software is delivered electronically with hard copy manuals.
4. Events and Conferences: Annual Hui conference, Passive House Conference, local chapter events, and webinar series generating registration revenue.
5. Sponsorships: Sponsors include suppliers, institutions and larger organisations committed to change in the construction industry who support PHINZ's charitable purposes.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

PHINZ promotes the international Passive House Standard in New Zealand through a charitable trust structure. It sells PHPP energy modelling software, delivers formal Certified Passive House Designer, Consultant and Tradesperson training via Passive House Academy NZ, maintains a member directory of certified professionals and component suppliers, hosts an annual Hui conference and webinar series, and operates eight regional Local Chapters that provide community engagement across New Zealand.

Product overview

Passive House Institute New Zealand (PHINZ) is a charitable trust (Te Tōpūtanga o te Whare Korou ki Aotearoa) that promotes the Passive House Standard in New Zealand. Its product portfolio centres on the PHPP (Passive House Planning Package) — an Excel-based energy modelling software sold directly by PHINZ and recognised by New Zealand's Building Code H1/VM1 verification method. Supporting the PHPP are training and certification programmes delivered through Passive House Academy NZ (a PHINZ project), covering Certified Passive House Designer/Consultant and Tradesperson qualifications. PHINZ also operates an online Member and Associate Directory with over 127 certified practitioners and suppliers, a Project Submission System for showcasing certified Passive Houses, the annual Passive House Conference (Hui), a network of Local Chapters across New Zealand, downloadable resources including the HPCD Handbook, and a structured Webinar Series. These products and services work together to educate the building industry, certify professionals, and advocate for the Passive House Standard in New Zealand.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Passive House Academy NZ: Formal Passive House training provided through this PHINZ project

Products and services

• PHPP (Passive House Planning Package) Software
• Passive House Academy NZ Training
• Passive House Conference and Hui

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 90% lower heating energy demand compared to conventional buildings
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Passivhaus Institut (Germany)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Passivhaus Institut in Germany defines the international Passive House Standard. PHINZ promotes this standard in Aotearoa/New Zealand and provides access to certification pathways, training materials, and PHPP software licensed from the Passivhaus Institut.
• International Passive House Association (iPHA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPHINZ members are also members of iPHA. iPHA controls professional certification renewal processes and CPD points allocation. PHINZ participates in International Passive House Open Days organised by iPHA.
• Passive House Academy NZcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFormal Passive House training is provided through Passive House Academy NZ, described as 'a PHINZ project'. Provides Certified Passive House Designer/Consultant and Tradesperson courses.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Passive House Canada: Canadian national body promoting Passive House building standards through training, certification, and member services. Highly comparable structure and product mix to PHINZ, operating in a similarly cold-climate housing market with a national affiliate model.
• Passive House Institute US (PHIUS): The US national affiliate organisation for high-performance Passive House building, providing certification, training (CPHD/CPHC), software tools, and advocacy. Closest direct peer to PHINZ in mission, product mix, and member-driven non-profit model, though operating in the larger US market and using a PHIUS-specific standard.
• UK Passivhaus Trust: UK-based organisation promoting Passivhaus adoption through training, certification, and advocacy. Closest European national peer to PHINZ in structure (national affiliate role, training + membership + advocacy) and reliance on Passivhaus Institut standards.

Regional players

• Australian Passive House Association (APHA): Australian national affiliate promoting Passive House standards in a similar climate zone and regulatory environment to NZ. Operates across a comparable small/medium market but does not directly compete with PHINZ geographically.

Others

• International Passive House Association (iPHA): International umbrella association of which PHINZ members are also members. iPHA controls professional certification renewal and CPD points allocation and coordinates International Passive House Open Days. Comparable as a peer membership/advocacy body but operating at global rather than national scope.
• New Zealand Green Building Council (NZGBC): NZ membership organisation operating the Homestar rating tool and certifying green buildings. Thematically adjacent to PHINZ in promoting high-performance NZ buildings and engaging government on Building Code H1, but uses a different certification system rather than the Passive House Standard.
• Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA): NZ Government agency responsible for energy efficiency policy and programmes, including Warm Up New Zealand. PHINZ engages with EECA on policy and high-performance building advocacy; comparable as an ecosystem participant in NZ energy efficiency, not a direct competitor.

Broad incumbents

• Passivhaus Institut: The original German institute that defines the international Passive House Standard and develops the PHPP energy modelling software. PHINZ is a national affiliate that promotes this standard in NZ and distributes PHPP under licence; functionally the parent authority and a broader global incumbent.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCCKDFOaIX5eBLwJwHRr1DLw
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/phinz

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 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 Passive House Institute New Zealand