This award acknowledges the work of Institute members residing outside New Zealand and local members undertaking commissions overseas.

Entries in this category are considered at New Zealand level only. This award is not given at Local level. Entries in this category will not be visited. In lieu of a site visit, jury evaluation may be undertaken using either/or (i) a short video walk-through; (ii) a virtual visit with short-listed entrants or a presentation by the entered Practice; (iii) an independent visit-report of the local Architecture Institute.

Projects in this category must be built primarily for commercial or industrial purposes. This category includes hospitality and tourism facilities, and it may include alterations and additions.

This category includes all educational work from pre-schools, primary, secondary or tertiary facilities.

This category is for any built conservation project and/or adaptive re-use of existing heritage buildings.

Projects in this category are built primarily for commercial purposes and may include cafes, restaurants, bars and retail projects.

Projects in this category must be residential in nature; the category includes individual houses that may be primary or secondary residences (e.g., baches and holiday houses).

Projects in this category must be residential in nature and comprise of or include two or more self-contained dwellings (whether or not the building includes uses for other purposes). This includes student accommodation.

Projects in this category must be residential in nature; the category includes renovations or alterations or additions to an existing building, whether or not that building was residential in nature in the first place.

Projects in this category must be interior spaces and environments within a new building or the refurbishment of an existing building.

This category covers a range of project types, including individual buildings, building groups and wider initiatives such as urban design studies and comprehensive masterplans. Successful projects are assessed for their ability to enhance the built environment, contribute positively to public spaces and public life, promote sustainability and strengthen community resilience while fostering thriving communities.

Projects in this category must be predominantly of a public or institutional nature, such as public art galleries, museums, train stations, religious buildings, hospitals and medical facilities. The category includes additions and alterations.

Projects in this category will be those considered to be 'small' in terms of area or budget as determined by the Jury. Projects are recognised that have been constrained by space or cost restrictions, but have achieved a level of invention, creativity and craftsmanship beyond these constraints. Especially at a Local level, award winners in this category demonstrate the value architects add to projects, irrespective of scale. This category can accommodate projects which may be over-looked against larger scale projects in other categories or may be transient or experimental in nature, such as exhibition design, set design or installations. Projects of all functional types may be considered.

Buildings that were completed 25 years ago or more may be considered for this Award. Buildings nominated need not be previous award winners but must be buildings of outstanding merit that, considered in contemporary context, remain important as high-quality works of architecture. Projects will be assessed in terms of national significance, technical advancement, innovation for its time, symbolic significance and/or creative leadership.