How we rank

Every BuildHub guide is a researched shortlist, not a directory dump. Here is the process behind each one, so you can judge our work the way we judge the trades.

1. Market scan

For each trade and city we map the businesses actually competing in the area: their websites, service pages, coverage claims and public customer feedback. National chains, genuine local specialists and platform-based operators all go into the first pass.

2. Shortlisting criteria

• Trade focus: specialists rank ahead of generalists doing the trade on the side.
• Experience and track record: years operating, and evidence of completed work.
• Licensing and certification: where the trade requires it (LBP for restricted building work, certified scaffolders over five metres, licensed electricians), we check the public registers.
• Coverage honesty: businesses that genuinely service the city, not ones with a keyword page and no crew there.
• Public feedback: what customers say on public platforms. We never invent ratings, and where we can't verify a figure we leave it out.

3. The advice sections

Costs, consent rules and quote-comparison advice are researched against primary sources: council websites, building.govt.nz, WorkSafe guidance and the relevant public registers. We link those sources so you can check them yourself.

4. Updates

Guides carry their last-updated date and are reviewed on rotation. Businesses close, hours change, prices move; if you spot something stale, tell us.

Our commercial disclosure

Some featured businesses may have a commercial relationship with BuildHub. That funds the site and never changes the facts we publish. We always recommend getting at least two quotes, including from businesses not featured here.