Specialist expertise without the fees

21 Jan 2026

Resene’s Auckland Specifier Services Manager, Karmen Hoare, has chosen Resene Plan B as her favourite colour.

On a dark and stormy night 1946, Eastbourne builder, Ted Nightingale, driven by a need for an alkali-resistant paint to use on concrete buildings and fuelled by good old fashioned Kiwi ingenuity, walked into his garage and the rest, as they say, is history.

Okay, so it may not have been a dark and stormy night, but the rest is true. Ted Nightingale did invent an alkali-resistant paint in his garage. In a cement mixer, no less. From that first accomplishment, marketed under the brand name Stipplecote, followed more innovations and with them, an institution was born.

In 1951, Ted launched the first waterborne paint in New Zealand under the brand name Resene – a name derived from the main ingredient of the paint, resin. At first no one believed a waterborne paint could perform as well as the market’s standard offerings but 80 years on from that first innovation, Resene has become a household name, known for its quality and ability to stay at the forefront of the industry.

Providing professionals and homeowners with top-quality products is only part of the reason why Resene has kept ahead of the curve. Equally important, is its investment in providing professionals with 80 years of experience and expertise, says Karmen Hoare, Auckland Specifier Services Manager for Resene.

“Drawing on the combined knowledge of Resene’s technical team, laboratories and testing facilities, our team provides a comprehensive range of paint specification and colour services tailored specifically for architects and designers. This service includes project‑specific coating recommendations, technical advice on substrate preparation and system performance, detailed written specifications and on‑site support when needed. 

“We have offices across New Zealand and Australia and we work closely with practices to ensure products selected meet durability, sustainability, compliance and aesthetic requirements. Additionally, our colour services add another layer of support, helping designers achieve cohesive, future‑focused palettes that align with the project vision.”

Remarkably, this additional service comes at no cost to specifying clients.

“All our architectural support, specification work and colour services are provided as a value‑added offering from Resene; there is no charge for engaging with our team. Our goal is to remove complexity from the coating selection process and ensure designers and architects have the confidence and technical backing needed throughout the project lifecycle.”

Karmen adds that architects or designers wanting to access the team’s services need only reach out, either by phone or email, in the first instance and from there they’ll be connected with the right team member based on project type, location and expertise, ensuring prompt and relevant support.

“Ideally, we like to be involved early in the design process—even at concept or feasibility stage. Early engagement allows us to guide substrate decisions, environmental considerations, durability requirements and colour strategy before constraints set in. That said, we are equipped to assist at any point.

“One of our biggest strengths is our collective expertise. When a project presents a technical hurdle—coating performance, substrate complexity, or specialised colour requirements—we collaborate internally to bring together the right knowledge. This ensures fast, practical and well‑informed solutions.”

So, if you’re an architect or design professional with a project in concept stage in 2026, reach out to Karmen and the team and draw on Resene’s 80 years of insider knowledge.

“My focus for the team this year, is strengthening our connection with the architectural community across New Zealand, Australia and the Pacific Islands by delivering fast, expert support and deepening our understanding of evolving design needs,” says Karmen.

“I’m also committed to streamlining processes and improving collaborative pathways within our team and across the business, ensuring we remain a trusted, knowledgeable, and accessible resource for designers.”

Published: 21 Jan 2026