As a founding sponsor of the Interior of the Year Awards, Resene continues to support the architects and designers shaping New Zealand interiors. Celebrating 80 years in business, the New Zealand-owned company remains committed to colour innovation, sustainability and the future of local design.
Tell us about your history of supporting the architecture and design industry in New Zealand.
Resene has a long and proud history of supporting New Zealand’s architecture and design industry. As a New Zealand-owned company founded in Wellington in 1946, we have worked alongside architects, designers and specifiers for generations, providing not only high-quality coatings and colour expertise, but also technical support and product innovation tailored to local conditions. Our connection to the industry has always been about more than paint — it is about helping bring design ideas to life, encouraging creativity, and supporting projects that shape better, more sustainable places for New Zealanders to live, work and connect.
Resene has supported the Interior of the Year awards since its inception; what does it mean for your brand to get behind this programme?
Being a founding sponsor of the Interior of the Year programme is something we are incredibly proud of. For Resene, supporting these awards is a meaningful way to celebrate the creativity, skill and innovation that continue to elevate interior design in New Zealand. The programme aligns strongly with our brand values — championing great design, recognising excellence and supporting the professionals who help create inspiring, functional and enduring spaces. It also reflects our ongoing commitment to the industry and our belief in the power of colour, materials and craftsmanship to make a lasting impact.
What are some of the recent highlights from the Resene team in terms of what you’ve been delivering and achieving?
One of the recent highlights for Resene has been the introduction of RE:Paint, a recycled paint product made from waterborne paint recovered through our Resene PaintWise programme and now available through selected Mitre 10 stores. It is a strong example of how we are turning sustainability goals into practical, market-ready solutions. More broadly, we continue to invest in products and systems that support healthier interiors, lower environmental impact and strong design outcomes, while providing specifiers and designers with the technical guidance and colour expertise they need to deliver exceptional projects.
As a New Zealand-owned company, what does local ownership mean when it comes to setting you apart?
Local ownership is a defining part of what sets Resene apart. Being New Zealand-owned and operated means we understand the conditions, challenges and expectations of this market firsthand, we are able to design and manufacture products specifically for New Zealand environments. It also means we can take a long-term view — investing in innovation, supporting local industry and building genuine relationships with the professionals and communities we work with.
Are there any recent milestones or news from Resene that you’d like the industry to know about?
This year is a significant milestone for Resene as we celebrate 80 years in business — a reflection of our long-standing commitment to innovation, quality and support for the New Zealand design and construction industries. It is also an opportunity to highlight the progress we continue to make in sustainability.
Four years ago, Resene became a Toitū carbonreduce certified organisation, and this year we have reached a 22% reduction in our total organisation emissions. Alongside initiatives such as our PaintWise recycling programme and RE:Paint, these milestones reflect not only how far Resene has come, but also where we are focused for the future — supporting better design outcomes through performance, colour leadership and more sustainable solutions.
