HISTORY OF NKBA

Delivering Industry Excellence for Over 40 Years

NKBA NZ has a rich history of supporting, promoting, and educating the New Zealand kitchen and bathroom industry.

The first meeting of the Steering Committee for the proposed NZ Chapter of the American Institute of Kitchen Dealers was held on Monday 23rd March 1981 in Auckland, New Zealand.

Affiliation was approved in 1982 when a group of New Zealand delegates attended the Dallas Convention and then in 1983 the name was changed to National Kitchen and Bathroom Association (NZ) Inc in line with the USA changes.

David Bass was elected our first National President and Ellen Cheever visited in June 1983 to present a series of seminars. She represented the USA Association and presented a framed Affiliation Agreement and the formal agreement for signing.

Read on for just a few key highlights in our 40-year history:

• Four regional chapters set up (Auckland, Christchurch, Waikato and Hawkes Bay)
• 15 designers achieved the Certified Kitchen Designer/Certified Bathroom Designer qualification
• First NKBA Executive Officer appointed in February – Bob Wright
• Design competition set up with Trends Publishing 
• Judy Bark ran the first NKBA training courses
• Wellington Chapter joined (fifth Chapter)
• National Board representatives elected from Regional Chapters
• Central North Island, Nelson, and Bay of Plenty Chapters set up
• SOE (Seal of Excellence) Scheme set up
• First Life Memberships awarded to David Bass and Jack Clarke
• Michael Grace and Judy Bark attended meeting in Hawaii 
• Nelson Chapter set up (Top of the South)
• Certified Designers Society formed
• New industry publication – Kitchen & Bathroom Focus, later to become Forum
• Hall of Fame started in NZ – Judy Bark, David Bass, Bob Wright, and Gary Sheffield (IPP NKBA USA) attended NZ conference, Chapter Rules and CDS Rules agreed
• New Cabinetry Standards released
• Taranaki Chapter set up
• Retail publication issued – Kitchens & Bathrooms With Confidence

Today, NKBA continues its mission to promote and recognise excellence in the New Zealand kitchen and bathroom industry with a full programme of networking and educational events, industry qualifications and workshops, an annual conference and Excellence in Design awards scheme.

NKBA National Presidents