Feature
From a Shed to My Own Front Door: One Canterbury Woman's Story
She lost the house, the marriage and her security in a single text message. Six months later she owns her home outright — for $24,500.
Tiny homes in Wellington.
Steep sections, serious wind, and the access problem that shapes every quote.
Wellington's terrain is the whole story. A unit that lands for one price on a flat Waikato paddock can cost significantly more here once you factor in a crane with reach, traffic management, and piled foundations on a slope.
The upside: small footprints suit small, awkward sections better than any conventional build.
What's different about building here
Wind loading is not optional
Confirm the design and tie-downs are rated for a high wind zone, and that the supplier has built in one before.
Get the access priced first
Before comparing suppliers, get a realistic craneage and traffic-management estimate for your street. It can be the largest single variable in the project.
Compact suits the housing stock
Older suburbs have plenty of steep back sections that will never take a full build but will take a small one.
Short-stay reference rates
Indicative average nightly rates we use in our backyard income calculator for Wellington. Actual rates vary by season, site and standard of finish.
| Size | Avg nightly (NZD) |
|---|---|
| 1 bedroom | $160 |
| 2 bedrooms | $200 |
| 3 bedrooms | $255 |
Reading for Wellington
News
Six months of the 70m² exemption: what Kiwis have actually built
Half a year after consent-free small dwellings became legal, the pattern is clear — smaller footprints, faster starts, and a lot of backyards quietly gaining a second home.
News
What delivery actually costs in 2026 — and why two identical homes get different quotes
Transport, craneage and site access are the line items that move most between quotes. Here is how they are priced this year and what changes the number.
News
Spring order books are filling: what lead times look like heading into summer
Factories are quoting later start dates than they were in autumn. If you want a home on the ground before Christmas, this is the month the decision gets made.
News
You've Already Won the Hardest Part.
Build costs are high and builders are booked out — but none of that matters as much when you already own the land. Seven ways Kiwis are using sections they already have.
News
Insuring a Tiny Home: The Cover Most Owners Get Wrong
Standard house insurance often doesn't fit a tiny home, and standard contents cover doesn't either. Sorting out which policy you actually need is a job for before delivery day, not after.
News
The Last Hundred Metres: Why Delivery Day Is the Riskiest Part of the Build
Your home can be built beautifully and still meet its match at your own gate. Access is the cost buyers forget and the problem that can't be solved with money on the day.
News
What "Turnkey" Actually Means: Reading a Tiny-Home Quote Properly
Two quotes for the same size home can differ by tens of thousands of dollars and both be honest. The difference is almost always in what the word "turnkey" is doing.
Other regions
Free download
Thinking about a tiny home?
Get our free guide to compare your options — before you spend thousands.
- Expert tips from industry insiders
- Real delivery timelines
- 5 warning signs of a bad prefab seller