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Investing the Building Research Levy

BRANZ Inc. invests the Building Research Levy in industry good research and knowledge transfer. At the heart of our investment decisions is our commitment to lifting the performance of Aotearoa New Zealand's building system so it can deliver better outcomes for all.

Identifying research priorities for investment

For nearly 60 years, BRANZ has prudently managed the Building Research Levy (Levy), driving practical research to positively impact the building and construction sector.

The Levy is our key lever for creating impactful change and achieving BRANZ’s overarching aspiration of affordable, resilient, sustainable and quality buildings for Aotearoa New Zealand.

Earlier this year, BRANZ unveiled the four focus areas, also referred to as sector priorities, that will guide our work over the next decade: affordability, resilience, sustainability and quality.

None of these are new areas or will come as a surprise, because the problems themselves aren’t new – they are complex and multi-faceted and require focus and hard work to shift.

BRANZ is not coming from a standing start. We have nearly 60 years of data, research and insights in hand that will continue to be used and accumulate over time as science is always evolving. However, in setting and clearly articulating these priorities, BRANZ has renewed clarity around where our work can make the biggest impact.

BRANZ research portfolio

The BRANZ research portfolio consists of research activities conducted by BRANZ research teams and external research agencies.

It comprises four focus areas:

  • Affordability
  • Resilience
  • Sustainability
  • Quality

You can learn more about our BRANZ Strategy by accessing our Strategy on a page.

Find out more about the BRANZ research portfolio

Stewardship of the Levy

BRANZ Inc. is the steward of the Building Research Levy and invests the Levy through a range of mechanisms, including:

  • work initiated and contracted with BRANZ Ltd (this can include subcontracts with external providers)
  • work initiated and contracted with external providers (this can include subcontracts with BRANZ Ltd)
  • scholarships to support the next generation of researchers and help support tertiary capability elsewhere in New Zealand
  • strategic initiatives that invest in significant activities above and beyond BRANZ’s baseline of research investment
  • agile investments that are able to respond to urgent industry issues or take advantage of opportunities that may emerge outside of programmed investment rounds.

Updated: 7 July 2025