This year marks a very special milestone for us at NK Windows: 25 years of helping Kiwis live better.
A lot has changed since our story began in 2000, but one thing has never wavered. Our commitment to making New Zealand homes warmer, drier, and more comfortable to live in.
Where it all began
NK Windows was founded in 2000 by Christian and Dagmar, a husband-and-wife team from Austria. Christian, a window joiner by trade, was travelling through New Zealand when he saw an opportunity to bring European-style, high-performance windows to Kiwi homes.
He returned to Austria, gathered supplies and equipment, and shipped them halfway around the world. Before long, the first NK Windows factory opened in Christchurch, making us one of New Zealand’s earliest pioneers in uPVC window and door manufacturing.
A new chapter
When the current owners, Martin and Prue, purchased NK Windows in 2013, they saw something special.
“We were looking for a business that had a premium, technical product but also a strong service element,” Martin recalls. “After the Christchurch earthquakes, there was huge demand for rebuilding, and we also saw an opportunity to do things better. To build homes that were more comfortable and energy efficient.”
At the time, NK Windows was a small team of about a dozen people, working from a 750 square metre factory in Hornby. Today, the company has grown to more than 35 people, serving homeowners, builders, and architects throughout the South Island and, more recently, the Wellington region.
Building better together
From day one, NK Windows has combined European engineering with local expertise. Our windows and doors use precision German profiles, Austrian hardware, and New Zealand glass, all crafted locally to suit our unique climate and lifestyle.
That combination of global quality and Kiwi know-how has set NK Windows apart for 25 years. And while the technology has evolved, our approach remains refreshingly simple: warm windows, made simple.
For Martin, that promise is deeply personal.
“Warm windows mean a warm house, a more even temperature, less condensation, and a more comfortable living environment. We work hard to make it simple for homeowners to understand what makes a good window as well as work with us from start to finish.”
Milestones and growth
There have been many turning points along the way.
The post-earthquake rebuilding in Christchurch created huge demand and new opportunities to serve both renovation and new-build markets.
In 2018, a partnership with Altus, one of New Zealand’s largest aluminium window companies, opened even more doors by giving NK Windows access to a wider network of customers and additional support for future growth.
Through all the change, one thing has stayed constant: our people.
“What I’m most proud of is the people,” says Martin. “The customers who come back to us time and time again, and the staff who’ve grown with the business. Some have been here for many years, and it’s rewarding to see them develop their skills and careers.”
Doing the right thing
Ask anyone at NK Windows what makes the company different and you will hear the same thing. We stay until the end.
“We’ve got a genuine ethos around doing the right thing by our customers,” says Martin. “We focus on delivering a really good window, a really good service, and we back that up with local support right through the life of your home.”
That local presence is part of what makes NK Windows special. Every product is New Zealand made and supported by a local team who can be there when you need them. More than just supplying great windows, we stand by them for decades.
Looking ahead
As NK Windows looks to the next 25 years, the focus is firmly on the future.
For Martin, the goal is clear.
“We want to keep lifting the standard of windows in New Zealand. Better windows mean better homes, homes that are warmer, healthier, and built to last.”
That means continuing to invest in people, technology, and education, helping more New Zealanders understand the real difference a high-performance window can make.
And while there is still work to do, NK Windows is proud to be leading the way.
A heartfelt thank you
This milestone belongs not just to NK Windows, but to everyone who has been part of the journey: our loyal customers, trusted suppliers, and dedicated team.
“It has not always been smooth sailing,” says Martin, “but it is about how you work together through the challenges, and staying friends at the end of it. We are very grateful for everyone who has helped shape NK Windows into what it is today.”
Here’s to 25 years of innovation, warmth, and trust, and to many more years of making warm windows simple for Kiwi homes.
