Paving contractor pricing in Wellington
What paving contractors charge in Wellington (typically $50-$115/hr), the local factors that move the rate, and a sample quote you can use as a starting point.
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Wellington paving contractor pricing
What paving contractors should charge in Wellington
Wellington paving work is dominated by Kelburn/Karori/Khandallah/Thorndon estate driveways on steep sites, hillside driveway retaining and terracing (Mount Victoria, Roseneath, Brooklyn), suburban concrete driveways (Lower Hutt, Porirua, Kapiti), government commercial paving, and heritage paver restoration (Thorndon, Mount Victoria). No specific NZ paving licence; LBP required for retaining over 1.5m. Wellington's hilly terrain makes driveway construction structurally complex.
Hourly rate
$50-$115
per hour, weekday daytime
Call-out fee
$35-$75
within standard radius
After-hours
1.5-2x
evening, weekend, holiday
Job pricing
What to charge for common paving contractor jobs in Wellington
Real-world price ranges for the jobs local tradies quote every week. Use the table as a starting point for your own quotes and adjust for parts, access, and your overheads. All figures in NZD.
Site visit and measure
What's included
Most paving contractors measure free for jobs over $2,220. Detailed scope and drainage plans may be charged.
Concrete pavers (per sqm, installed)
What's included
Standard 60mm interlocking concrete pavers. Includes excavation, sub-base, sand bed, and laying. Edging extra.
Permeable pavers (per sqm)
What's included
Allow water through to reduce runoff. Often required by council for new driveways. Higher unit cost, lower drainage cost.
Porcelain pavers (per sqm)
What's included
Premium look, ultra-low maintenance. Includes 20mm porcelain on concrete or screed bed. Pedestal install for rooftops extra.
Natural stone (per sqm)
What's included
Bluestone, travertine, sandstone, or granite. Includes stone, screed bed, grout, and labour. Premium for honed or sawn finishes.
Residential driveway (40-60 sqm)
What's included
Depends on paver choice and site difficulty. Includes excavation, sub-base, drainage if needed, and edging.
Patio (20-30 sqm)
What's included
Depends on paver choice. Includes excavation, base, and laying. Excludes pergola, lighting, and furniture.
Garden path (per linear m, 1m wide)
What's included
Includes excavation, sub-base, paver or stepping stone, and edging. Curved paths cost more.
Repointing existing paving (per sqm)
What's included
Removes failed joint sand, sweeps polymeric sand, seals. Refreshes a 10-year-old patio without full relay.
Wellington quote factors
What to factor into your Wellington paving contractor quote
Local context that should shape what you quote as a paving contractor in Wellington. Temperate maritime, famously windy. Mild summers (Dec-Feb, 17-22°C, rarely above 25°C, coolest summer of major NZ cities), cool winters (June-Aug, 6-12°C, rarely below 2°C), persistent strong wind (gales 80+ km/h common, wind-driven rain), moderate-high rainfall (~1,250mm/year). Earthquake risk EXTREME (Wellington Fault + Hikurangi subduction).
No specific NZ paving licence
NZ does not require a specific paving contractor licence. LBP (Licensed Building Practitioner) required for Restricted Building Work scope (retaining over 1.5m, structural foundations). Print LBP number on every quote where applicable.
Kelburn, Karori, Khandallah, Thorndon designer paving
Kelburn (6012), Karori (6012/6024), Khandallah (6035), Thorndon (6011), Roseneath (6021), Oriental Bay (6011), Wadestown (6012) customers favour bluestone (NZ$310-NZ$540/sqm installed), Hinuera stone (NZ$245-NZ$430/sqm), basalt (NZ$310-NZ$540/sqm), schist (NZ$430-NZ$720/sqm). Premium designer projects NZ$430-NZ$835/sqm.
Hillside driveway retaining + terracing
Wellington's hill suburbs (Mount Victoria, Roseneath, Karori, Kelburn, Brooklyn, Khandallah, Wadestown) have steeply sloping sites driving structural driveway work. Quote retaining walls (concrete-block NZ$720-NZ$1,670/LM, timber-pole NZ$430-NZ$945/LM, stone NZ$945-NZ$2,440/LM) as separate line. LBP required for retaining over 1.5m. Structural engineer (NZ$3,890-NZ$13,350) on every significant retaining project.
Seismic-rated foundations
Wellington's extreme seismic risk drives engineered foundations for any significant paving. Quote AS/NZS 1170.5 seismic-loading-compliant foundations and engineered base spec (200-300mm compacted base on hillside) at premium NZ$28-NZ$61/sqm over standard. Premium customers in Kelburn, Karori, Khandallah accept premium for longevity post-earthquake.
Suburban tract concrete driveway volume (Lower Hutt, Porirua, Kapiti)
Greater Wellington new-construction subdivisions (Lower Hutt: Belmont/Wainuiomata; Porirua: Aotea/Whitby; Kapiti Coast: Paraparaumu/Waikanae) drive volume. Quote per-driveway pour (NZ$9,440-NZ$25,000 for 60-120sqm single-family driveway at builder portfolio rates). Build relationships with 5-10 production builders.
Government commercial paving
Government departments drive ongoing commercial paving contracts (foyer pavers, courtyard, vehicle drop-off, accessible ramps). Quote commercial paving at NZ$205-NZ$430/sqm installed with disability access compliance (NZ Building Code D1). Build relationships with 5-10 facilities managers.
Sample quote
A real Wellington paving contractor quote you can copy
Residential driveway, 55sqm, premium concrete pavers, charcoal. Replace the line items and rates with your own; the structure stays.
Site excavation (200mm depth), debris removal to landfill
150mm CBR-tested crushed rock sub-base, compacted in 75mm lifts
30mm screed bed (sand)
Adbri Euro Stone Driveway Charcoal pavers (200x100x60, stretcher bond)
Concrete haunch edging (perimeter, 28 linear m)
Drainage connection to existing stormwater (2 linear m)
Polymeric joint sand, brush and water-set
Project labour (4 days, 2-person team, including site clean)
FAQ
Wellington paving contractor pricing questions, answered
Common questions about paving contractor pricing in Wellington, with answers framed for tradies pricing their own work.
Per-sqm installed: standard concrete driveway NZ$120-NZ$205; exposed-aggregate concrete NZ$170-NZ$270; standard concrete pavers NZ$185-NZ$315; bluestone NZ$310-NZ$540; Hinuera stone NZ$245-NZ$430; basalt NZ$310-NZ$540; schist NZ$430-NZ$720. Kelburn, Karori, Khandallah, Thorndon premium of 25-40% above standard. Add hillside-access premium 15-25%. State seismic-rated foundation spec on every Wellington quote. GST 15% applies above NZ$67k turnover.
No, NZ does not require a specific paving contractor licence. LBP (Licensed Building Practitioner) required for Restricted Building Work scope (retaining over 1.5m, structural foundations). Print LBP number on every quote where applicable.
Typical 60-100sqm driveway runs NZ$9,440-NZ$55,550 depending on material and site. Quote separately: excavation and disposal, sub-base (200-300mm compacted base for hillside sites), sand bedding, pavers/concrete, edging restraints, drainage if required, jointing and sealing. Kelburn, Karori, Khandallah, Thorndon designer driveways NZ$38,900-NZ$133,350+ including retaining.
Yes, Wellington's signature trade specialty. Wellington's hill suburbs (Mount Victoria, Roseneath, Karori, Kelburn, Brooklyn, Khandallah, Wadestown) have steeply sloping sites driving structural driveway work. Quote retaining walls (concrete-block NZ$720-NZ$1,670/LM, timber-pole NZ$430-NZ$945/LM, stone NZ$945-NZ$2,440/LM) as separate line. LBP required for retaining over 1.5m. Structural engineer (NZ$3,890-NZ$13,350) on every significant retaining project.
Yes, on every Wellington project. Wellington's extreme seismic risk drives engineered foundations for any significant paving. Quote AS/NZS 1170.5 seismic-loading-compliant foundations and engineered base spec (200-300mm compacted base on hillside) at premium NZ$28-NZ$61/sqm over standard. Premium customers in Kelburn, Karori, Khandallah accept premium for longevity post-earthquake.
Per square metre rates are $89 to $310 installed in the US, depending on paver type. Hourly rates ($50-95) only apply for repairs and small remediation work. Most paving contractors quote fixed-price per sqm with adders for pattern, edging, and drainage.
Concrete is cheaper ($28/sqm material), softer, may need re-sealing every 3-5 years, and weathers over time. Porcelain is more expensive ($89/sqm+), harder, requires no sealing, and looks like-new at year 20. Concrete dominates driveways; porcelain dominates patios and pools.
A driveway over poor sub-base sinks 30-100mm over 5 years, cracks pavers, and pools water. Quality sub-base (100-150mm of CBR-tested crushed rock, compacted in lifts) keeps the surface flat for 20+ years. Most failed paving traces to sub-base, not the pavers.
Yes, 2-3 quotes for any paving over $3,330. Compare paver brand, sub-base depth, edging spec, and drainage approach. The cheapest quote almost always cuts sub-base or skips edging, both of which fail within 3-5 years.
If the driveway connects to a public road or changes a council kerb crossing, almost always yes. Council layback permits are $280-1,200 depending on region. The paving contractor should include this in the quote, not hide it.
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