How we read a builder's public record.
Not a star rating. A plain-English explanation of the five factors we look at on every New Zealand builder, and where each one comes from, so anyone can check it themselves.
No account, results in minutes.
Five questions we ask of every NZ company.
A homeowner shouldn't need to read court filings or Gazette notices to know if a builder is safe to hire. These are the same five questions used by businesses that vet companies for a living, translated into plain language and pulled from named, official sources.
Solvency status
Is the company actually solvent right now? We check the official register and the NZ Gazette for current liquidation, receivership, voluntary administration, or recent statutory demands. This is the single most important fact a homeowner needs before paying a deposit.
Source: NZ Companies Register · NZ Gazette
Court & tribunal records
Has a court, tribunal or regulator recorded a finding against this company or its directors? We surface Disputes Tribunal orders, court judgments and licence cancellations from authority sources, never gossip or social posts.
Source: Disputes Tribunal · Courts of NZ · MBIE and more
Each director's NZ companies
The people behind the company carry their record with them. We look across the whole NZ Companies Register at the other companies the same directors are listed on, and show the liquidations, removals and receiverships on the public record, with dates. You draw your own conclusion.
Source: NZ Companies Register (cross-company)
Media coverage
We check New Zealand's mainstream news for coverage that mentions the company, restricted to trusted NZ outlets and official notices, never bare social-media posts.
Source: NZ Herald · Stuff · RNZ and more
Filing compliance
Is the company keeping its annual returns up to date? Overdue filings are quiet. They don't make headlines, but they're often an early sign a company is starting to slip.
Source: NZ Companies Register · annual returns
Four rules we don't break.
Facts before opinions
Every item on a report cites the source and the date. Nothing is invented and nothing is anonymous.
No manufactured concern
If there's nothing on the public record, the report says so plainly. We don't manufacture concern to make a sale.
Never named individuals
We show the companies a director is listed on. We don't publish individuals' personal details or make accusations against named people.
Regularly re-checked
A public record can change overnight. Verified builders are re-checked regularly against the official record.
What this is not.
Not a workmanship rating
Whether a builder finishes a kitchen on time is not something the official record can tell you. Always check references and visit recent jobs.
Not legal or financial advice
It's an organised view of public information to help you ask better questions. It isn't a substitute for a lawyer, accountant or building inspector.
Not a guarantee
Public records reflect what's been reported and recorded. New issues can emerge overnight. That's why we re-check, and why BuildWatch exists for the period that matters most.
Now put it to work.
Check any NZ builder, or read the self-check before you pay a deposit.
The Trust Index is descriptive of CheckMyBuilder's own methodology. It is not a legal certification or an industry standard, and the information shown is not legal, financial or building advice. Always verify with official sources before making a decision.