Hiring a builder in NZ? Read this first.
Short guides for New Zealand homeowners hiring a builder. Each one covers what to check and where to find it on the public record.
In short: you can check any NZ builder against the public record before you pay a deposit. No account.
NZ Homeowner Guide
How to check if a builder is legit in New Zealand
Step-by-step guide to verifying any NZ builder before you hire. NZBN, LBP, court records, director history. The complete check NZ homeowners need.
9 min readRead guideNZ Homeowner Guide
12 builder red flags to spot before you sign anything
The warning signs experienced NZ homeowners watch for when hiring a builder. Spot trouble before you pay a deposit. Practical, no-nonsense list.
8 min readRead guideNZ Builder Verification
NZBN, LBP, Master Builders: what NZ builder verifications actually mean
What's the difference between NZBN, LBP, Master Builders and Certified Builders? Plain-English NZ guide so you know which checks actually matter before you hire.
7 min readRead guideTradie Verification
Got a tradie quote? How to verify them in 5 minutes before you sign
Found a tradie online and about to accept the quote? Marketplace reviews don't show NZBN status, director history or court records. Here's the 5-minute check that does.
6 min readRead guideEmergency Homeowner Guide
What to do if your builder goes bankrupt mid-build
Your NZ builder has stopped work, won't return calls, and rumours of liquidation are circulating. What can you actually do? Step-by-step rescue guide for homeowners.
9 min readRead guideIndustry Pattern Explained
Phoenix companies: how dodgy NZ builders rebrand to escape their past
A NZ builder fails, leaves customers out of pocket, then opens a new company a month later. It's called a phoenix. Here's how it works, why it's legal, and how to spot it before you sign.
8 min readRead guideConsumer Rescue Guide
How to recover your deposit from a builder
Paid a deposit to a builder who hasn't started work, walked away, or refuses to refund? Step-by-step NZ recovery process: demand letter, Disputes Tribunal, lawyer, realistic outcomes.
8 min readRead guidePre-Signing Guide
Building contract red flags: the 5 clauses you should never sign
Before you sign a NZ building contract, these 5 clauses should make you walk away or negotiate hard. Cost-plus, calendar-payment, waiver of consumer rights, large deposit, no completion guarantee. What to demand instead.
8 min readRead guideNZ Homeowner Guide
How to spot a building scam before you sign
The 7 warning signs that the builder you're about to hire is running a scam. Cash-only quotes, door-knocking, vanishing trading names: what to watch for and what to demand instead.
7 min readRead guideNZ 2026 Build Rules
The 70m² granny flat consent-free rule (2026): what it actually says
MBIE's 70m² granny flat exemption in plain English. Who can build, what's still required, where it doesn't apply. NZ homeowner guide.
8 min readRead guideNZ Build Law 2026
The 2026 Building Amendment Bill: what's actually changing
NZ's Building Amendment Bill 2026 explained: mandatory 10-year structural warranty, proportionate liability, what it means for homeowners and tradies.
9 min readRead guideBuilder Verification Reference
NZ Gazette notice codes for insolvency: aw, al, ba, ar, ds explained
What NZ Gazette notice codes aw, al, ba, ar and ds actually mean for a builder. Plain-English glossary plus how to search the Gazette.
6 min readRead guidePlatform Comparison
Builderscrack vs CheckMyBuilder: a factual comparison
How the two NZ trades platforms differ: fee structure, verification model, review policy, dispute path. Plain-English breakdown for tradies and homeowners.
7 min readRead guide
Already know who you're hiring?
Check the company against the public record before you sign anything. We pull the official NZ sources together into one plain check.