Hybrid-ready offices
Hybrid work is settled in most New Zealand organisations, and it has changed what the office is for. People come in to work together, learn from each other and connect with the team. Focused solo work can often happen anywhere.
That shifts the furniture brief. There are fewer assigned desks and more variety: shared benching, modular desks, mobile tables, and settings that can be rearranged as the team changes. The measure of success is no longer how full the floor is, but whether people choose to come in.
At Rayonier Matariki Forests’ agile head office in Auckland, we supplied electric sit-to-stand workstations so whoever sits down can set the desk to suit them. See the Rayonier Matariki Forests project.
Wellbeing by design
Wellbeing used to sit with HR. Now it sits in the design brief. An ergonomic office chair is the baseline, not an upgrade, and height adjustable desks give people the option to change position through the day.
Biophilic design is part of the same conversation. Natural materials, planting and earthy colours bring the outdoors in, and the furniture needs to work with them. At Rayonier, we finished the desks in Aged Ash and chose Autex screens in greens and natural tones to sit within the timber and planting across the office.
We explored this further at the inaugural Aotearoa Biophilic Design Event, held in our Parnell showroom with Miranda Brown, Tricia Love Consultants, Heritage Carpets and GreenAir.
Acoustics from day one
Open plan is here to stay, but it now comes with places to go for quiet. Acoustic control is planned with the layout rather than added once the noise complaints start.
When Wellington City Council brought 1,200 staff together at 68 Jervois Quay, we installed 30 large-format acoustic phone booths to give people private space for focused work and conversations (See the project here). At Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora, our W Pods give staff a quiet place to settle in for more than a quick call, with a pull-out desk and built-in ventilation.
We hold our pods in stock in New Zealand, install them with our own team, and can relocate them if your needs change. Phone booths, meeting pods and acoustic screens and panels all play a part, and our guide to what office pods cost in NZ covers the budget side.
Ask us about pod stock and lead times here.
Furniture that lasts
Buyers expect more from their suppliers on sustainability, and price alone no longer decides the purchase. Durable, reconfigurable furniture that can be moved, adapted and repaired costs less over its life than furniture that is replaced every few years.
Europlan has held Toitū Carbon Reduce certification for six years running, and this year we reduced waste to landfill by 30%. Our furniture carries a minimum 10-year warranty, and our take-back programme gives furniture a next life when it’s replaced. Read our ESG strategy.
Built-in technology
Technology is no longer something to fit around the furniture afterwards. Power, cable management and AV-ready meeting tables work best when they’re specified alongside the technology from the start.
At Rayonier, power and wireless charging are built-into the desktop, so people can plug in and start work straight away. On larger projects, we work with AV and technology partners so the furniture and technology arrive as one plan.
What the best New Zealand workplaces have in common
The workplaces that work best plan for change. They pair acoustics with layout, treat ergonomics as standard, and choose furniture that can move and adapt as the organisation does.
If you’re planning a new office or a refresh in 2026, talk to our workplace design team or request a quote.
Frequently asked questions
Are open plan offices still popular in New Zealand?
Yes. Open plan remains the most common layout, but it now comes with quiet spaces such as phone booths and meeting pods, so people can choose where to work depending on the task.
What is biophilic design in the workplace?
Biophilic design brings natural elements into the office, such as planting, natural materials, daylight and earthy colours. Furniture plays a part through finishes and colours that work with those elements.
Do sit-to-stand desks suit hybrid offices?
Yes. When desks are shared, a height adjustable desk lets each person set it to suit them, which makes shared desks work for everyone.
How long do office pods take to arrive in New Zealand?
It depends on whether the model is held in New Zealand stock. Europlan holds pods in stock locally, and our guide to office pod costs (link) covers lead times in more detail.
