Why Hotel Britomart Is New Zealand’s First 5 Green Star Hotel

In 2021, just a year after opening, The Hotel Britomart in Auckland, New Zealand, earned recognition in three categories—Commercial Architecture, Hospitality and Interior Architecture—and received a Resene Color Award for its interior. These honors are part of an annual celebration of Auckland and Northland architecture, selected by a peer-reviewed jury from the Auckland branch of Te Kāhui Whaihanga New Zealand Institute of Architects.

The jury described the adaptive reuse of two late-19th-century structures—the Masonic and Buckland buildings—into The Hotel Britomart as “magical.” Located in the revitalized Britomart waterfront district, the hotel appeals to both domestic and international business and leisure travelers for its prime location and the restrained, thoughtful design by New Zealand–based Cheshire Architects. Since opening, the property has collected multiple awards, including the Best Hotel Award at the Hospitality New Zealand Business Awards 2024. The hotel features 99 guest rooms and five luxurious Landing Suites, and it is New Zealand’s first hotel to achieve a 5 Green Star rating from the New Zealand Green Building Council.

The project transformed the complex to include rooftop pavilion suites, office spaces on levels one through three, and lively, colorful laneways at street level that contribute to the Britomart district’s pedestrian-friendly character.

One of the two hotel buildings rises to 10 floors, built from handmade clay bricks and punctuated by carefully glazed windows that frame views across the historic Britomart precinct—its narrow cobblestone lanes, restored dockside warehouses and the Auckland waterfront. Guest rooms feature custom-designed wooden furniture and lighting created by the Cheshire design team. The rooftop Landing Suites are conceived as softly lit timber pavilions, oriented to capture sunlight. All accommodations offer views of Auckland’s downtown skyline or the waterfront, and include tiled bathrooms, 100 percent organic cotton bed linens and complimentary WiFi.

The hotel’s signature restaurant, kingi, serves three meals daily. Mornings feature generous breakfasts with cold-pressed juices, specialty coffee, a selection of teas and pastries made on site. Lunch and dinner focus on line-caught seafood, a raw bar and seasonal New Zealand produce. During aperitivo hours (3–5 p.m.) the chef offers complimentary small bites to accompany cocktails, wine and beer. Beyond the hotel, the nine-block Britomart district offers an array of additional dining and drinking options.

Just five minutes on foot from the hotel is the Downtown Ferry Terminal, providing regular ferry services to Auckland’s surrounding suburbs and islands in the Hauraki Gulf, including popular Waiheke Island—an easy option for day trips and island exploration.