How Long Does It Take to Build a House in New Zealand?
The question “How long does it take to build a house?” doesn’t always have a simple answer—much like asking “How long is a piece of string?” The timeline can vary widely depending on several factors. However, having a general idea of what to expect is essential for planning your move and managing temporary living arrangements.
For example, if you’re renting, you’ll likely want your new home completed close to the end of your lease. If you’ve sold your previous home and are staying with family or in short-term accommodation, a faster build may be more urgent.
Understanding the stages and what can influence delays helps ensure a smoother transition to your new home.
What can affect the Timeframe?
A number of elements can influence how long a house takes to build—some are within your control, and others, like weather, are not.
The Land You’re Building On
Ideally, every home would be built on a flat, easily accessible site. These sites are quicker and cheaper to develop. However, if your section is sloped or challenging, extra earthworks may be required. Even a slightly uneven block can lead to a more complex design and longer build time.
Site Testing
Before construction starts, your land will need to undergo testing. This includes assessing the soil, identifying underground utilities, and ensuring the ground is suitable for construction. While these checks are standard, unexpected findings can lead to delays. At RB Thomas Limited, we prioritise early site testing to catch any issues before they affect your build schedule.
Council Consent
All homes in New Zealand must be approved by the local council before construction begins. Councils are given 20 working days to process a consent application. However, if they request additional information or if amendments are made, this can extend the timeline. That’s why working with an experienced builder who understands the local consent process is so valuable.
The Design Process
The time it takes to finalise your house plans depends on the complexity of the design. Choosing a pre-designed home can streamline this stage significantly. On the other hand, custom designs often involve multiple rounds of revisions and approvals, which adds time to the overall process.
Typical Timeline to Build a Home in NZ
Here’s a rough guide to help you understand the different stages of a home build:
- Planning & Consent Phase:
Typically takes 2–3 months if everything runs smoothly, but can extend up to 4 months with delays—usually related to council approvals. - Construction Phase:
- Foundation and Slab Work: 4–8 weeks
- Main Build (Framing to Final Finish): 22–26 weeks
- Final Compliance:
Once construction is complete, it may take up to 4 weeks for the council to issue your Code Compliance Certificate (CCC), which is required before moving in.
Estimated Total Time: Around 9 Months
From your first consultation to handover, most new builds will take roughly nine months—though this varies depending on the scope of the project.
Why RB Thomas Limited?
At RBT, we focus on building high-quality homes with care and efficiency. Our small Family run team will only take on a small number of projects at any one time, meaning while we are involved on your project you get our maximum attention and we are not rushed or pressured to take shortcuts in order to keep dozens of other clients happy like many of our competitors. When you hire us, you get all of us, until the project is complete and you are satisfied helping us toast a job well done on completion with a cold bottle of bubbly.
We don’t cut corners—we pay close attention to detail at every stage. The result? A home you’ll love, delivered on time.
Thinking of building your dream home?
Talk to the team at RB Thomas Limited today and take the first step toward your new home with confidence.
