Investigating stakeholders' perspectives on cost-related drivers and barriers to Passivhaus adoption in New Zealand

Purpose The Passivhaus Standard is internationally recognised for delivering high levels of energy efficiency, occupant comfort and indoor environmental quality. Despite these recognised benefits, its adoption in New Zealand remains limited, with concerns regarding construction costs, technical complexity, market readiness and policy support continuing to influence uptake. This study investigates multi-stakeholder perceptions of the cost-related drivers and barriers influencing Passivhaus adoption and identifies the key enablers for wider implementation. Design/methodology/approach An exploratory quantitative research design was adopted using a questionnaire survey. A purposive sampling approach was employed to target stakeholders with experience in Passivhaus design, construction, certification, ownership and research. A total of 59 valid responses were collected and analysed using descriptive statistical techniques to examine perceptions of the economic benefits, barriers and adoption enablers. Findings Operational energy cost savings are perceived as the most significant economic benefit associated with Passivhaus buildings. In contrast, perceptions of maintenance savings, property value enhancement and market premiums are comparatively less certain. High upfront construction costs emerged as the dominant barrier to adoption, followed by knowledge gaps, technical complexity, market limitations and insufficient policy support. In contrast, occupant-related concerns, including behavioural resistance and thermal comfort issues, were generally perceived as minor constraints. Stakeholders identified financial incentives, professional training, demonstration projects, public education initiatives and local supply-chain development as key enablers of wider adoption. Overall, the findings suggest that Passivhaus adoption in New Zealand is influenced not only by economic considerations but also by industry capability, market readiness, stakeholder awareness and policy support, indicating that wider adoption will require a combination of financial, technical, educational and policy-based measures. Originality/value This study provides context-specific empirical evidence on the factors influencing Passivhaus adoption in New Zealand from a multi-stakeholder perspective. The findings contribute to understanding the economic, industry, market and policy factors shaping the uptake of high-performance housing and inform the development of a stakeholder-informed strategic framework to support wider Passivhaus adoption.