Heritage Homes builds new character homes — villas, bungalows and cottages — across Christchurch and wider Canterbury. The local licensees are Craig and Carla Rogers, who joined Heritage Homes in 2016 and bring more than 20 years in the building industry, including work through the Canterbury earthquake rebuild.
Canterbury is New Zealand's fastest-growing consent market right now — 8,468 new dwellings consented in the year to May 2026, up 30% year-on-year (Stats NZ) — and the region has one land question that shapes almost every new build here: your section's technical category.
Where we build in Christchurch and Canterbury
Heritage Homes builds character homes across the Christchurch metropolitan area and the surrounding Selwyn and Waimakariri districts, including:
| Area | Towns and suburbs |
|---|---|
| Christchurch city | Fendalton, Merivale, St Albans, Riccarton, Papanui, Beckenham, Cashmere, Halswell |
| Selwyn district | Rolleston, Lincoln, Prebbleton, West Melton, Darfield |
| Waimakariri district | Rangiora, Kaiapoi, Woodend, Pegasus |
| Wider Canterbury | Ashburton, Amberley, Banks Peninsula and the Akaroa area |
Coverage depends on the licensee network at any given time, so if your site isn't listed, ask — it takes one call to confirm.
TC land categories: the Christchurch question that sets your foundation budget
Every section in greater Christchurch carries a technical category — TC1, TC2 or TC3 — from the post-earthquake land assessments. It describes how vulnerable the ground is to liquefaction, and it drives foundation design more than any other single factor on a Canterbury build.
- TC1 — low vulnerability. Standard NZS 3604 foundations are generally appropriate. Most TC1 sites don't need site-specific geotechnical investigation.
- TC2 — moderate vulnerability. The most common category in Christchurch. Typically needs a site-specific geotechnical report to support the building consent, and an enhanced foundation — often a thickened-edge or waffle slab.
- TC3 — high vulnerability. Needs detailed site-specific geotechnical investigation, with foundations designed for that property by a chartered professional engineer.
Published guidance puts the extra cost of TC2 and TC3 foundations in the tens of thousands of New Zealand dollars, rising with severity — but the only number that counts is the one your geotechnical report produces for your section. Christchurch City Council publishes a technical categories map; check it before you make an offer, not after. It's the Canterbury version of the wider point in our guide to choosing a section for a character home.
Character homes in Christchurch: what the city already has
Christchurch has some of the country's finest surviving villa and bungalow streets — Fendalton, Merivale, St Albans and Beckenham among them — and the earthquakes made those streetscapes feel more precious, not less. A new character home in Canterbury sits comfortably in that context: period proportions and detailing on a structure built to today's foundation and bracing standards, which on this land is not a small thing.
Craig and Carla's team specialises in villas and bungalows, and their rebuild-era experience means the ground conditions conversation starts early rather than as a nasty surprise at consent stage.
Your local team in Canterbury
Craig and Carla Rogers have been the Heritage Homes licensees for Canterbury since August 2016. Craig holds an Advanced Trade Certificate in Carpentry and has over 20 years in the industry; the team is known for workmanship, long-standing relationships with local subcontractors and suppliers, and a commitment to taking on apprentices. Locals to the core, in their own words.
Frequently asked questions
Do you build character homes outside Christchurch city?
Yes. Heritage Homes builds across Canterbury, including the Selwyn district (Rolleston, Lincoln, Prebbleton, West Melton) and the Waimakariri district (Rangiora, Kaiapoi, Woodend, Pegasus), as well as wider Canterbury towns. If you're unsure whether your site is covered, ask — it's the quickest way to find out.
What does my TC category mean for building a character home?
TC1 land generally allows standard NZS 3604 foundations. TC2, the most common category in Christchurch, typically requires a site-specific geotechnical report and an enhanced foundation such as a thickened-edge or waffle slab. TC3 requires detailed geotechnical investigation and foundations designed for that property by a chartered professional engineer. The category affects cost and consent documentation, not whether you can have a character home.
Can you build a villa-style home in a Christchurch character suburb?
In most cases yes, and it often suits the street better than a contemporary design. Some areas carry heritage or character controls in the district plan, and newer subdivisions can carry design covenants of their own, so the check is the same either way: read the title and the planning rules before you go unconditional.
Is building in Canterbury busier than the rest of New Zealand?
Canterbury consented 8,468 new dwellings in the year to May 2026, up 30% on the previous year, the strongest regional growth rate in the country and the highest consents per head of population (Stats NZ). Practically, that means booking trades and long-lead joinery earlier rather than later.
Who is the Heritage Homes builder in Christchurch?
Craig and Carla Rogers have held the Canterbury licence since August 2016. Craig holds an Advanced Trade Certificate in Carpentry with more than 20 years in the building industry, including work through the earthquake rebuild.
Talk to us about building in Christchurch and Canterbury
Prefer to talk? Call Heritage Homes on 0508 40 30 20 or email sales@hhomes.nz.