New Zealand architecture has followed a similar pattern to that of Australia. New fashions, originating overseas, were adopted very slowly, because New Zealand, like Australia, was a long way from Europe. The Maoris were already settled in New Zealand when the first immigrants came at the end of the 18th century. But, unlike the Australian Aboriginals, the Maoris had permanent buildings. The settlers' first shelters were made of materials like wattle and daub, raupo, or slabs. Next came a timber-frame house with a verandah-a style still seen in country areas.
 Georgian style, derived from neo-classicism, reached New Zealand In the mid 1800s, bolt most buildings continued to be constructed of wood. It was not until the first years of the 20th century that brick, covered with plaster, was used in buildings like the Auckland Town Hall, or that stone construction was used - for example, the basalt with limestone facings in Auckland and Dunedin railway stations. Houses built in wood have continued to be a strong characteristic of New Zealand. New Zealanders have many types of timber to choose from and many modern homes use wood imaginatively as a result. All advantage of wood construction Is that it withstands earthquakes better than brick or stone built structures.
 In 1833 the Australian architect, John Verge, designed the WAITANGI treaty house. In Prosperous years from 1860 to 1890, many town halls, court houses, post offices, schools and other public buildings were constructed. In this period the Gothic influence, strong in Australia, did not take hold in New Zealand, with the exception of a very simplified version of the arches in wooden churches.
 During the late 1800s, Polynesian Influences affected domestic architecture. Vernon Brown (died 1961), in the first half of the 20th century continued to explore the possibilities of the indigenous architecture New Zealand was developing.
 After World WarĄ±a great increase occurred in the number of family homes built. As in Australia, the Government helped with loans of money. Because of the speed at which ideas now travel, contemporary New Zealand architecture. like that of Australia, now has an International character.       

...From Australia,New Zealand Encyclopedia,Bay Books 1975.