Overcoming Client Barriers to Enhance Green Star NZ Adoption in New Zealand’s Construction Industry

Dat Tien Doan¹, Mitu Jose Rose¹, Ali Ghaffarianhoseini¹, Amirhosein Ghaffarianhoseini¹

1. Auckland University of Technology

Published in Proceedings of the International Conference on Smart and Sustainable Built Environment (SASBE 2024), edited by Ali GhaffarianHoseini, Amirhosein GhaffarianHoseini, Farzad Rahimian and Mahesh Babu Purushothaman. Springer Nature, Lecture Notes in Civil Engineering, volume 591, 2025, pages 1264 to 1270. DOI 10.1007/978-981-96-4051-5_121.

Abstract

Sustainable building practices are essential for reducing the environmental impact of the construction industry, with green building rating systems (GBRSs) like Green Star NZ playing a key role. This research examines the limitations of the Green Star NZ rating system from the client’s perspective, aiming to propose measures to enhance its adoption within NZ’s construction industry. Through a systematic literature review (SLR) and semi-structured interviews with industry professionals and client representatives, the study identified critical barriers to adoption, including the complexity of the certification process, high initial costs, a skills gap within the industry, and resistance to change among clients. Despite these challenges, the Green Star NZ system is valued for standardising sustainable practices and its adaptability to local conditions. To overcome the barriers, the research suggests strategies such as streamlining the certification process, offering financial incentives, improving client education and industry training, and showcasing successful projects. Implementing these strategies could lead to broader adoption of the Green Star NZ rating system, thereby advancing sustainable building practices in NZ. The findings offer actionable insights for policymakers, industry stakeholders, and clients, paving the way for more effective green building certification.

Keywords

Session

Presented in Recorded Presentations, Session III, Saturday 9 November 2024, 11:00 to 13:30, room WG 201, Auckland University of Technology. Session chair Dr Antonio Lara Hernandez.

How to Cite

Doan, D. T., Rose, M. J., Ghaffarianhoseini, A., & Ghaffarianhoseini, A. (2025). Overcoming Client Barriers to Enhance Green Star NZ Adoption in New Zealand’s Construction Industry. In A. GhaffarianHoseini, A. GhaffarianHoseini, F. Rahimian, & M. B. Purushothaman (Eds.), Proceedings of the International Conference on Smart and Sustainable Built Environment (SASBE 2024) (Lecture Notes in Civil Engineering, Vol. 591, pp. 1264–1270). Springer Nature Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-96-4051-5_121

About the Conference

Presented at SASBE 2024, the International Conference on Smart and Sustainable Built Environment, held in Auckland from 7 to 9 November 2024 and chaired by Professors Ali and Amirhosein GhaffarianHoseini, founders of GDI Academy. The version of record is published by Springer Nature; this page is the conference archive record kept by GDI Academy.