New Zealand’s best new buildings range from an office tower in Auckland and an opera house in Oamaru to houses on Waiheke Island and an apartment in New York City, according to New Zealand Institute of Architects' official awards programme.

A railway station in Newmarket and a bus shelter in Queenstown are also among 24 projects recognised in the 2011 New Zealand Architecture Awards, New Zealand's premier architecture competition.

Te Kaitaka, Lake Wanaka Retreat by Stevens Lawson Architects Ltd won in Residential Architecture - House category

A slick new heliport in Onehunga, a bold extension to the City Gallery in Wellington, a bravura visitor centre for the historic Waitomo Glowworm Caves, and a serene Hawkes Bay house designed by Sir Miles Warren in the 1970s were also among the winners.

That winner, who will receive the 2011 New Zealand Architecture Medal, will be announced on 20 May.

Newmarket Railway Station, Auckland by Opus Architecture and Herriot+Melhuish won the Urban Design category

The New Zealand Architecture Awards indicate the breadth of work undertaken by the country's architects, and offer a snapshot of the state of the country's architecture, says Awards jury convenor, Wellington architect Hugh Tennent.

"The Awards are evidence that New Zealand architecture is in a healthy and vibrant state, despite current economic and financial difficulties," says Tennent.

"We were particularly impressed with some brilliant public and commercial buildings. The Birkenhead Library and Community Centre is a wonderful community asset, St Kentigern School Jubilee Sports Centre is very cleverly sited, and the high-rise at 21 Queen Street shows that sustainability and commerce can be reconciled."

Supreme Court of New Zealand, Wellington by Warren and Mahoney Ltd won in the Heritage and Interior Architecture categories

Another strong category in Awards was residential architecture, Tennent says.

"Highly accomplished houses are being designed by New Zealand architects, often in beautiful settings. New Zealanders traditionally have prized landscapes over buildings, but architecture and the environment shouldn't be at odds.

"Houses like those designed by Mitchell and Stout, Patterson Associates and Fearon Hay on Waiheke Island, and by Stevens Lawson at Te Mata and Wanaka, and the Dunedin eco-sanctuary designed by Architectural Ecology, prove architecture can be appreciated in the landscape in its own right."

Frankton Bus Shelter and Public Toilets, Queenstown by Mary Jowett Architects Ltd won the Urban Design category

As well as recognising new work, the jury gave Awards to older buildings of enduring worth.

"The Michael Fowler Centre in Wellington is nearly 30 years old and the Freyberg Pool was built in the 1960s, but they still feel modern and they're still enjoyed by the community. They're integral to the Wellington cityscape."

The jury also acknowledged two buildings of even earlier vintage, the original Supreme Court in Wellington and the Oamaru Opera House.

"The Supreme Court is a very well done restoration job, while the Oamaru Opera House is an excellent example of clear, unfussy adaptive re-use," Tennent says. "The town should be very proud of what it and its architects have achieved."

One message the Awards send, Tennent says, is that architectural quality is not dependent on building scale. Several Awards were given in the small project category. Appropriately enough, one went to an Auckland building commissioned by Plunket, the organisation that cares for our smallest citizens.

The New Zealand Architecture Awards jury, comprising Hugh Tennent, Auckland architects Marshall Cook and Daniel Marshall and international juror, Sydney architect Camilla Block, made awards in 10 categories. Two projects received two awards - 21 Queen Street (Commercial Architecture and Sustainable Architecture) and the Supreme Court of New Zealand (Heritage and Interior Architecture).

Details of all the award winners in their categories, with abridged Award citations are available at their website.

David Wheeldon

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