A journey to healthy living in Wellington’s native bush
“Home means safety, security, and respite. This house gives us all of that, while also allowing us to live in a way that contributes to a better future for our daughter.”
For James and Eva, the dream of creating a healthy home for their growing family began with memories of cold, damp houses and persistent health issues. James grew up in what he calls a "nice house," but one that harboured hidden challenges — mould problems and the kind of dampness that contributed to his asthma and hay fever.
"I spent years flatting in Dunedin, and then later in Wellington, always dealing with cold, damp conditions," James recalls. "When we started thinking about building our own home, especially with our daughter on the way, we knew we wanted something completely different."
The couple's vision went beyond just finding a warm, dry space. They were seeking a way to live that aligned with their deepest values of creating an equitable and sustainable world while maintaining connection to both nature and community. They found their answer on a stunning 11-hectare property of native bush in Pāuatahanui, where they could balance urban access with the serenity of being surrounded by nature.
View of James and Eva’s home from above, looking inland.
"We wanted to be close enough to Wellington for work and community, but to feel like we were in the middle of nature when we were home," Eva explains. "It was about creating a sanctuary that wouldn't compromise our connection to either world."
The solution came in the form of a home that matched their values of low environmental impact and health-first design. Their house achieved an exceptional blower door test result of 0.5, indicating superior airtightness and performance — but for James and Eva, the real proof came in the living experience.
The transformation in their daily lives was immediate and profound. James, who had struggled with asthma and hay fever, noticed a significant improvement to his health and a reduction in sick days. Their baby daughter thrived in the consistently warm, dry environment. "Apart from normal teething, she hasn't been sick once since we moved in," James shares with pride. "The difference in air quality compared to our previous homes is remarkable."
The benefits extended beyond health. The home maintains comfortable temperatures with minimal energy input, thanks to its airtight construction and careful attention to thermal performance. The constant fresh air circulation through their mechanical ventilation and heat recovery system means they never have to choose between warmth and fresh air — they have both, all the time.
Perhaps most importantly, James and Eva found that their home aligned perfectly with their vision of living sustainably. Their property allows them to work towards self-sufficiency in water, electricity, and food, while their home's design ensures they're treading lightly on the land they've become kaitiaki of.
The journey wasn't without its challenges. James and Eva’s home was the pilot project for Toa Homes and where all of our research and development was put to the test. The team worked tirelessly to test and re-test each aspect of the build process for James and Eva’s home, in addition to incorporating features like solar power, rainwater catchment and wastewater treatment by way of worm farm.
The process required extra patience and flexibility, but for James and Eva, the result was worth every moment of planning and decision-making. Today, their home stands as a testament to what's possible when vision meets expertise — a warm, dry, healthy space that works in harmony with its environment while providing a foundation for family wellbeing. It's exactly the kind of future-focused home that James and Eva dreamed of creating for their daughter, and for generations to come.
James and Eva’s home is currently the Toa Homes show home, and we’d love to show you around! Book a visit today.
More about James and Eva’s home
Exposure: Wind: SED-extreme wind zone, earthquake: 3-high risk, exposure zone: C-medium risk, snow loading zone: N1-, rainfall range: 60-70mm, climate zone: 9°C to 21° C temperature range (zone 3)
Altitude: 315 metres above sea level
Access: Extremely difficult. We delivered the house fully built on the back of flatbed truck, being towed up the goat track by a front-end loader.
Interior size: 25 square metres
Exterior size: 32 square metres
Number of Toa Homes panels used: 26
Mechanical ventilation unit: Stiebel Eltron LWZ 70E
Blower door test results: qE50 : 0.50 m³/(h∙m² envelope area)
Energy modelling heating and cooling results: 66% reduction in heating and cooling requirements compared to new build to NZ building code minimum
2473 kWh/a heating demand (compared with new builds to building code 7279 kWh/a)
231 kWh/a cooling demand (compared with new builds to building code 317 kWh/a)
Cladding: Burned thermally modified pine from the Chartek team in Christchurch
Windows and glazed doors: APL Metro Centrafix with argon gas and low-E coating
Interior walls: Mix of traditional plaster and paint, mud plaster sourced from the property, and both exposed and painted recycled wood orientated strand board (OSB)
Kitchen joinery: UNO kitchens
