Get the latest construction costs with QV CostBuilder
QV CostBuilder is New Zealand’s most comprehensive construction cost database.
April 2025
In this monthly update, approximately 10,200 current material prices have been applied to the QV CostBuilder rates, resulting in roughly 2,100 changes to the data across Auckland, Hamilton, Palmerston North, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin.
Here are some of the notable rate changes across the libraries since our last construction cost update in March:
Cost planning rates
On average, the Elements increased 0.2% since the last update. The range of change is -0.2% to +2.9%, with the top changes, as below:
- Partitions: down 0.2%
- Frame: up 0.2%;
- Sanitary Plumbing: up 0.8%
- Exterior Works: up 2.9%
- Exterior Works: down 0.5%
Detailed rates
On average, the Trades also increased 0.2%, since the last update. The range of change is -1.7% to +3.6%, with the top changes, as below:
- Steel Framing: down 1.7%
- Plumbing: up 0.6%
- Laminated Timber: up 3.0%
- Gasfitting: up 3.6%
March 2025
In this monthly update, approximately 10,000 current material prices have been applied to the QV CostBuilder rates, resulting in roughly 500 changes to the data across Auckland, Hamilton, Palmerston North, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin.
Here are some of the notable rate changes across the libraries since our last construction cost update in February:
Cost planning rates
On average, the Elements have not increased since the last update. Only one element changed in this update:
- Exterior Works: down 0.5%
Detailed rates
On average, the Trades have not increased since the last update, with no change to any of the trades.
February 2025
In this quarterly update, approximately 11,500 current material prices have been applied to the QV CostBuilder rates, resulting in roughly 5,600 changes to the data across Auckland, Hamilton, Palmerston North, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin.
Here are some of the notable rate changes across the libraries since our last construction cost update in November:
Cost planning rates
On average, the Elements increased 0.1% since the last update. The range of change is 0.0% to 0.4%, with the top 5 increases, as below:
- Site Preparation: up 0.4%
- Substructure: up 0.4%
- Partitions: up 0.4%
- Wall Finishes: up 0.3%
- Exterior Works: up 0.2%
Detailed rates
On average, the Trades increased 0.1%, since the last update. The range of change is -0.3% to 1.8%, as below:
- Plumbing: down 0.3%
- Demolition: up 0.3%
- Partitions: up 0.5%
- Excavation: up 1.4%
- Plasterboard Linings: up 1.8%
Want to know more?
To see the full list of changes – and to take the guesswork out of pricing your next project – subscribe to QV CostBuilder today.
Your subscription grants instant access to a wealth of regularly updated data, covering everything from the building costs per square metre for a range of different buildings, to the indicative costs of more than 10,500 other items, plus labour rates and hours, plant constants, and more than we can list here.