Homestar Explained — And Why a Homestar 6 Home Can Save You Money While Keeping Your Family Healthier

When people imagine building a new home, they don’t usually picture extravagant architectural masterpieces.
Most families simply want a warm, healthy, affordable home that feels good to live in and won’t cost a fortune to run.

One of the most reliable ways to achieve this is by building to at least Homestar 6 — a performance standard that lifts your home well above minimum Building Code requirements. As an architectural designer and Homestar professional, I recommend Homestar to almost every new build client, whether they’re first-home buyers, investors, or growing families.

What makes Homestar so worthwhile? Quite simply:
👉 Lower running costs
👉 Better lending benefits
👉 A more comfortable, energy-efficient home

Let’s explore how it works — and why a Homestar 6 build is often the smartest long-term decision you can make.

What Is Homestar?

Homestar is an independent rating system created by the New Zealand Green Building Council (NZGBC). It evaluates how efficiently a home performs across key areas including:

• Warmth and dryness

• Ventilation and air quality

• Energy and water use

• Sustainable design

• Construction waste management

• Stormwater and site ecology

• Material choices and carbon impact

Homes are scored from 1 to 10 stars, with a standard NZ new build sitting just above the minimum code — typically equivalent to Homestar 4–5.

A Homestar 6 home lifts performance significantly and includes measurable improvements in:

✔ Thermal efficiency
✔ Health and comfort
✔ Moisture control
✔ Heating efficiency
✔ Ongoing operating costs

Every Homestar home is:

• Assessed at the design stage (like applying for Building Consent), and

• Verified at completion (similar to Code Compliance),
  ensuring the home actually performs to the standard promised.

The Top 3 Reasons to Aim for at Least Homestar 6

1. It Can Make Your Home More Affordable — Not Less

Many people assume building to Homestar costs significantly more. In reality, achieving a Homestar 6 typically adds around 0.5–1.5% to the construction cost (depending on design and location).

But here’s the twist:
That small increase can dramatically improve your financial position over time thanks to:

Mortgage Interest Savings

Certain lenders (including ANZ) offer Healthy Home interest rate discounts for Homestar-rated homes.
A reduction of 0.7% off your mortgage rate can save you:

• Over $6,800 in the first 5 years

• $40,000–$80,000 over a 30-year loan

So even if the home costs a little more to build upfront, the financing advantages easily outweigh it.

Lower Monthly Repayments

Using a 60m² example:

• Standard code-minimum build at 6% = $1,430 per month

• Homestar 6 build at 5.3% (after bank reduction) = $1,388 per month

You save $48 every month, simply by building to a better standard.

Homestar 6 isn’t about luxury — it’s about long-term affordability.

2. Lower Power Bills — Every Month, Every Year

A higher Homestar rating tightens a home’s overall performance so it wastes less energy. Upgrades to insulation, glazing, ventilation, and heating systems dramatically reduce how much power you need to stay warm and comfortable.

Based on energy modelling:

• Code minimum home: 173.8 kWh/m²/year

• Homestar 6: 92 kWh/m²/year

• Homestar 8: 51 kWh/m²/year

• Homestar 10: 33 kWh/m²/year

At around 30¢/kWh, the monthly power bill for a 60m² home looks like:

• Code minimum: $260.70/month

• Homestar 6: $138/month

• Homestar 8: $76.50/month

• Homestar 10: $49.50/month

Even at Homestar 6, you’re saving over $120 a month — that’s more than $1,400 a year.

These savings stack up quickly.

3. You Can Pay Off Your Mortgage Faster

This is where Homestar becomes a game-changer.

If you take the monthly power savings from a Homestar 6 home and put them straight into your mortgage (instead of spending them), you gain:

• Monthly repayment rises from $1,388 → $1,510

• Mortgage term drops by 62 months (more than 5 years)

• $49,914 saved in interest over the life of the loan

That small 2% cost increase for Homestar?
It effectively pays for itself and then pays you back.

Bonus Benefit: A Healthier, More Comfortable Home

Beyond the financial wins, Homestar homes deliver noticeably better living conditions:

✔ Less condensation
✔ Fewer issues with mould
✔ Better ventilation and airflow
✔ More even temperatures
✔ Reduced overheating in summer
✔ Improved indoor air quality

This contributes to healthier families, lower medical risks, and more comfortable everyday living — something that can’t be measured in dollars alone.

Is Homestar Worth It? Absolutely.

Even building to Homestar 6 provides:

• Lower mortgage rates

• Lower power bills

• Faster debt reduction

• Better comfort and moisture control

• Improved long-term financial security

• Only a small additional upfront cost

Homestar isn’t just a sustainability label — it’s a smart investment in the quality, performance, and affordability of your family home.

Considering a Homestar Home in the Waikato?

At MH Builders, we’re passionate about building homes that are:

• Warm

• Healthy

• Efficient

• Affordable

• Designed for real families

We partner with Homestar professionals like Sharon Robinson to ensure our clients can access the benefits of smarter, high-performing homes without unnecessary complexity.

If you’re planning a new build, Homestar is one of the most valuable steps you can take toward future-proofing your home — and your budget.