Insights & innovation from the Mitre 10 Expo 2025

 

 

Staying up to date with the latest innovations and trends is the best way to give yourself the edge with clients.

Tons of product innovations and trends were on show at this year’s Mitre 10 Expo, bringing together suppliers, store owners and managers from across the country.  

Here’s just a small sample of brand-new and top-trending products worth knowing about. 

Stria Cladding and Axon Panel – While classic board and batten remains number one for cladding, James Hardie has alternative options that are highly popular with clients wanting something different. Fibre-cement Stria Cladding is available in two widths, 325mm and 405mm, which can be alternated in different configurations to create unique visuals. There’s also a new 3000mm length option. Meanwhile, the new brushed concrete-look Axon Panel is in demand not only as an exterior cladding, but for fireplace surrounds and feature walls as well.  

RE:Paint – Winner of this year’s Mitre 10 Trade Partner Sustainability Award, this is a Resene product for fences and sheds made from completely recycled paint. Thanks to RE:Paint, over 40 tonnes of paint has been recycled in just six months – and it’s exclusive to Mitre 10. A fifth colour, Shadow White (a pale beige), joined the line-up in September. From October, the new three-colour RE:Stain range is coming to Auckland and Christchurch Mitre 10 stores only. 

Wai Water Pavers – Builders are being challenged to maximise build area on shrinking sections without running up against limits for impermeable surfaces. With more extreme weather, homeowners are also increasingly looking to minimise flooding. Horizon’s Wai Water Pavers look like concrete flagstones, but they are actually 97% recycled porcelain. Without the usual visible gaps of water permeable paving, each paver absorbs up to 11mm of rain, gradually releasing it into the ground or the air with zero runoff. Because they count as lawn, they allow houses to cover more land area.

The Undercover Hose Box – New from Gardena, this is a unique option for small gardens, or anyone looking for a clean look. Instead of a wall-mounted hose reel, this version lives under a hatch in the ground, and can be plumbed directly to the tap, attached to a hose, or connected to an underground Gardena pipeline system. 

Kraus Waterproof Hybrid Flooring – This hybrid flooring is hugely popular in Europe, being made of a durable limestone PVC core, and is now coming to Mitre 10 courtesy of supplier QEP. Durable and 100% waterproof (making it suitable for bathrooms and kitchens), it comes backed by a foam underlay so installation is a one-step process. It also snaps together easily, so a flooring specialist isn’t needed. 

For more details on any of these products, touch base with your rep or the Trade team at your local Mitre 10 store.