Celebrating 40 years of NKBA

from Joiners Magazine September 2022

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The 2022 NKBA Rejuvenation Conference was held in beautiful Queenstown from Thursday 30 June to Saturday 2 July. Hundreds of members from across New Zealand attended the annual event, including its prominent NKBA Excellence in Design Awards.

The conference kicked oﬀ with a fun, educational day for students and designers of NKBA. Held at the Rydges Hotel, day one included sessions on colour theory, drawing standards, electrical plans and an inspiring talk from Royston Wilson on career progression.

Friday was another thrilling day, with attendees heading to the Skyline Gondola - a beautiful venue with breath-taking views. Speakers included the incredible Fred Van Brandenburg who shared his experience designing Marisfrolg in China – an incredibly distinctive feat of architecture, and presenter Hilary Barry who generated much laughter as she told the story of her career highs and lows.

Saturday was a day of discovery and creativity, as members headed to Te Atamira to flex their imagination through artistic expression. Day three attendees explored weaving, breathing meditation, drawing and sculpture, getting hands dirty creating their own masterpieces.

A highlight of the conference for many was the celebration of 40 years of NKBA. A panel including Judy Bark, Mal Corboy, Milvia Hannah,Jared Dineen and Katherine Lightfoot hosted by Hilary Barry, shared how the NKBA came to be, the challenges in gaining professional validation and the future for the organisation. It concluded with a birthday cake and champagne to celebrate the milestone.

Of course, no NKBA conference would be complete without the NKBA Excellence in Design Awards. Held on the Saturday evening, it was hosted by Mike Puru and Anika and was located at the stunning NZ High Country venue. The awards celebrated the best of the best in kitchen and bathroom design with Natalie Du Bois of Du Bois Designer Kitchens & taking out the Supreme Bathroom, Supreme Kitchen and Designer of the Year Awards.

The NKBA are excited to announce the 2023 NKBA Conference will be held in Auckland. The NKBA look forward to showcasing the talent of the kitchen and bathroom design industry for another year. Watch this space.

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