Pro Clima Podcast

Pro Clima Podcast

Welcome to the pro clima Podcast, where we're dedicated to fostering better building practices in New Zealand. Our mission is to inspire and educate people to create healthy, durable and energy-efficient buildings to live, learn, work and play in — now, and for generations to come. Throughout this podcast series, we will talk to architects, builders and homeowners delving into various aspects of building design, construction techniques, and sustainable living. Here's what you can expect from our episodes: Expert Interviews / Case Studies / Homeowner Perspectives / Emerging Trends and Technologies / Audience Engagement By bringing together diverse perspectives and expertise, we hope to empower our audience with the knowledge and inspiration needed to create buildings that not only meet our immediate needs but also contribute to a healthier, more resilient future for all. Join us on this journey towards better building practices in New Zealand.

Episodes

July 1, 2025 35 mins
In this episode of the pro clima Podcast, Simon Cator and Jon Davies sit down with Arena Williams, MP for Manurewa, for a conversation on housing, policy, and the future of building in Aotearoa. They discuss the overseas building products register, unconsented granny flats, and Arena’s vision for her time in parliament. She also highlights the urgent need to modernise New Zealand’s building code—calling out issues like moisture man...
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In this episode of the pro clima Podcast, architect Sian Taylor shares her journey from growing up in Wales to designing and living in a Passive House in Queenstown. She reflects on the contrasts between UK and New Zealand building standards, highlighting the superior comfort and energy efficiency of Passive House design. Sian also critiques the current New Zealand building code, calling out its shortcomings and advocating for stro...
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May 13, 2025 40 mins
In this episode of the pro clima Podcast, Simon Cator sits down with Mark Anderson of MA Building, a Wanaka-based builder, as he shares how an apprenticeship alongside his father led to his journey into building high-performance homes, focusing on health and comfort. He reflects on his commitment to energy efficiency and how it drives his focus on Passive house standards and smarter building methods. He discusses his role in commun...
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April 22, 2025 41 mins
In this episode of the pro clima Podcast, host Simon sits down with Jason Quinn, the Director of Sustainable Engineering, as they discuss overheating in homes and how to design to prevent it from happening. Jason explains the balance between reducing heat gain in the summer and losing some solar gain in the winter, and the importance of good glass specification. He also goes over the importance of understanding building performan...
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April 1, 2025 35 mins
In this episode of the pro clima Podcast, host Simon Cator sits down with Bronwyn Barry, Principal at PassiveHouseBB, for an insightful conversation about Passive House design. Bronwyn talks about a pre-fabricated panel solution that is really cost-effective while still having a really high insulation value. She also shares her perspective on an often-overlooked advantage of Passive House design, superior acoustic comfort. Specia...
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March 11, 2025 40 mins
Join Simon Cator as he sits down with Denise Martin, Director at BEO, for an insightful discussion on building science and insulation practices in New Zealand. Denise explores the unique challenges of insulating concrete structures and explains the advantages of exterior insulation. She also highlights how proper insulation and airtightness can lead to significant energy savings, ultimately reducing your power bill. Throughout the ...
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February 18, 2025 46 mins
In this episode of the pro clima Podcast, host Simon Cator sits down with Graham Finch, Principal Science Specialist at RDH Building Science, for an in-depth discussion on rain screen walls—their function, importance, and the key differences between open and closed rain screens. Graham shares his expert insights on how different cladding systems impact not only the performance of a building but also its longevity, highlighting crit...
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February 4, 2025 21 mins
Join Simon Cator in conversation with Dan Saunders as they explore New Zealand’s H1 building code changes and discuss how we can promote higher standards. This engaging discussion dives into the challenges and opportunities of creating homes that are not only durable but also better suited for Kiwi lifestyles. Dan shares expert advice on selecting the right building materials, debunks common myths about constructing high-performan...
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January 21, 2025 29 mins
Join Simon Cator as he interviews Architect Bob Burnett to explore the transformative work behind the Christchurch Earthquake rebuild, the origins of the Superhome Movement, and how to select the perfect architect for your dream home. In this insightful episode, Bob shares the guiding principles of the Superhome Movement, including airtight designs, low-carbon materials, and the importance of responsibly sourced resources. He refle...
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January 8, 2025 31 mins
In this episode of the Pro Clima Podcast, host Simon Cator is joined by Nick Gaites from Reveal Building Consultants for an insightful discussion on one of New Zealand’s pressing housing challenges—overheating. Together, they explore how energy modelling, fixed shading, reduced glass areas, and improved insulation can transform building performance and elevate comfort levels. Nick also shares valuable strategies for retrofitting ex...
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December 17, 2024 25 mins
In this episode of the pro clima Podcast, Simon Cator sits down with Matthew Cutler-Welsh from Home Style Green at the Green Building Council. They discuss the role Home Style Green plays in educating and assisting New Zealanders in designing and building more sustainably, along with addressing carbon targets and reporting requirements. Throughout the podcast, Matthew shares insights about the assumptions surrounding new builds mee...
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December 5, 2024 34 mins
Join Simon Cator and Manfred Kehrer as they discuss Manfred's upbringing in Bavaria, his interest in building science and, how he ended up working at the Fraunhofer Institute. They discuss the early development of WUFI® software and how he helped in the early stages of the development process, working alongside Hartwig Künzel. He touches on the differences between WUFI® modelling and the Glaser method, and how the Glaser method can...
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November 26, 2024 28 mins
Join Simon Cator as he sits down with Kara Rosemeier, director of the Passive House Academy in New Zealand, discussing Kara's early career in physiotherapy to then studying Architecture in Germany before moving to New Zealand in 2001. Kara talks about her emphasis on building science and shares insights on ventilation in New Zealand homes, highlighting that air change rates don’t often correlate with Blower Door tests and that open...
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November 4, 2024 35 mins
In this episode of the pro clima Podcast, Simon sits down with Hartwig Künzel, who shares his journey with Fraunhofer—from accompanying his father at the test fields as a child, through his studies in chemical engineering, to his pivotal role today at the Institute. Hartwig dives into the critical role of understanding vapour permeability in construction, highlighting the creation and impact of the WUFI® model. He explains both th...
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October 15, 2024 34 mins
In this episode of the pro clima Podcast, Barry shares with Simon his journey from studying engineering to transitioning into airtightness testing with ATTMA (Air Tightness Testing & Measurement Association) where he has worked for 10 years. Simon and Barry discuss the process of Blower Door testing and emphasise the importance of airtightness testing for energy efficiency, citing that homes with improved airtightness can achieve u...
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October 3, 2024 27 mins
In this episode of the pro clima Podcast, Simon and Vlada delve into Vlada’s career as a European-trained architect and Certified Passive House Designer. Vlada, now based in Auckland, is passionate about promoting Passive House design in New Zealand. Vlada has completed multiple certified Passive House projects, as well as many other high-performance building projects throughout NZ. During the discussion, he shares some of the main...
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September 23, 2024 32 mins
_Now is the time to press play on my next property development! _ This podcast conversation between Simon Cator and Murray Alcock explores Murray’s career in property development and construction, his experience with building techniques, and his current efforts to improve housing design and energy efficiency in New Zealand. Murray is committed to building homes that do not introduce long-term problems to the buyers, emphasizing the...
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September 4, 2024 36 mins
In this episode of the pro clima Podcast, Steve shares his journey from living in a renovated 1860s villa in Ponsonby, Auckland, to building an off-grid Passive House in Coromandel. He recounts how the villa’s renovation revealed issues with heat retention, leading to high energy costs and discomfort. This experience, along with a desire to live more sustainably, inspired his family's move to Coromandel, where they began with minim...
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August 13, 2024 36 mins
In this episode of the pro clima Podcast, Joe shares his personal journey in architecture, from his childhood in a 1890s farmhouse to pursuing a career in architecture and later moving to New Zealand for a better work-life balance. Facing unhealthy rental conditions in New Zealand, Joe and his wife decided to build their own house to ensure a healthier living environment for their family. They prioritized continuous insulation, hig...
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July 18, 2024 43 mins
In this episode of the pro clima Podcast, Simon Cator and Jon Davies speak to Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk. The discussion revolves around the Minister’s desire to build “Simply, Cheaply and Quickly” - the recent controversial media furore regarding the government's signal to roll back the H1 insulation standards and other building and construction-related issues. The discussion also touches on easing the regulatio...
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