Our Story
Watch our story.
How Ruru began
Ruru Tiny Homes was born in 2020, in the middle of a global pandemic, from a simple idea — that New Zealanders deserved better, more affordable, more ethical housing. What started as a small workshop in Motueka grew into a team of 70 builders, with up to 16 homes under construction at once, and a reputation built entirely on word of mouth.
We built hundreds of homes across New Zealand over seven years. We learned what works, what lasts, and what people actually need from a tiny home. We made mistakes and fixed them. We refined our designs, our materials, our processes, and our values until we had something we were genuinely proud of.
In 2026, we made the decision to bring Ruru to Australia — because Australians deserve the same quality, the same ethics, and the same standard of care that we built our reputation on in New Zealand.
Fran & Daniel Huelsmeyer
Fran brings a background in communications, marketing, and public relations, alongside seven years co-founding and leading Ruru Tiny Homes in New Zealand. She is the voice, the vision, and the values of Ruru — the person you'll speak to when you enquire, and the person who will see your build through from first conversation to final handover.
Daniel holds a Master of Laws with Distinction from the University of Auckland, with advanced study in planning frameworks, consent pathways, and council processes as they apply to tiny homes. He helps every Ruru client understand the process and navigate their options with confidence — though we always recommend seeking independent advice for your specific situation.
Together they have four sons, a dog, and seven years of lived experience building — and lived in — tiny homes.
Why Australia
Australia is facing a housing crisis. Land is expensive, builds are slow, and too many people are locked out of homeownership entirely. We've watched the tiny home movement grow here and seen a gap — there are volume builders and there are budget options, but there is almost no one building premium, ethically made, family-focused tiny homes with genuine care and transparency.
That's the gap Ruru was built to fill in New Zealand. And it's the same gap we're here to fill in Australia.
We also build differently. Every Ruru home is timber-framed — sustainably sourced, thermally superior, and built to last generations. In an industry that has defaulted to steel, we've held the line on timber because we believe it produces a better home. The University of Queensland agreed — Ruru is now the formal Industry Partner for UQ research into sustainable timber construction for small and minor dwellings, led by Associate Professor Joe Gattas.
We build in Queensland using Australian-sourced materials. We pay above living wage. We don't cut corners, hide costs, or rush builds. We bring seven years of hard-won experience, hundreds of completed homes, and a genuine passion for what tiny living can do for people's lives.
Australia, we're here. And we can't wait to build your home.
