Concept through to Building Consent and Resource Consent documentation for new homes, minor dwellings, alterations and multi-unit housing — designed around your site, and drawn so a builder can price it. We work with clients right across New Zealand, online or on site.
Lead designerLicensed Building Practitioner
We talk about the site, the budget and what you're picturing — and tell you honestly whether it stacks up before anyone spends money.
Site analysis, sun paths and district plan rules turned into two or three options you can react to. Sketch plans and massing, not finished drawings.
The chosen option resolved properly — layouts locked, materials chosen, structure and services coordinated, engineers briefed.
The full set: bracing, foundations, details, schedules and specification, plus the LBP Certificate of Design Work.
Design work led and signed by a Licensed Building Practitioner (Design).The statutory clock pauses while questions are open, so answering them fast is the whole game.
Recognised by Selwyn District Council as an Approved Building Partner for 2026.Builder's questions, variations and minor amendments answered as they come up, right through to Code Compliance Certificate.
Every home leaves the studio as a coordinated set a builder can price and a council can process.
Concept through to Building Consent and Resource Consent documentation — designed around your site, and drawn so a builder can price it.
Over fifty images of our work, from concept renders to finished homes. Tap any project to see it full size. Every one left the studio as a coordinated set a builder can price and a council can process.
Each pin is a council district we have taken projects through, sized by how many, straight from our job register. Hover a pin to name it. District level only; no client addresses.
From a dreamed-up new home to a compliance upgrade on a building that already exists — innovative, future-ready design that stays buildable, and documentation that stands up at the council counter.
Buy a proven layout and save weeks of design time. Start with a dimensioned floor and framing plan, or go straight to a full builder's pricing set. Our designers can adapt any plan to your site, section and budget. Here are a few favourites; the full range is in our house plan shop.
A dimensioned floor and framing plan. The low-cost way to test an idea, talk to builders and start your design.
A full set of drawings a builder can price from, ready to adapt to your site for consent.
Tap "Buy plan" to order. We confirm the order and send your files. For example PDFs or CAD DWGs, email info@cadconsultantsltd.com. A purchased plan still needs adapting to your site before it can be lodged for consent.
Four quick answers give you a realistic budget, the consents you'll need and when you could have them in hand.
Build cost uses New Zealand average rates, adjusted for your region, of — per m² (reviewed September 2026), typically GST-inclusive. Allowances are typical ranges to budget with, not quotes. We confirm the real figures for your site, including development contributions, which vary by council.
Each stage ends with something you can hold, sign off and price. Nothing moves forward until you're happy with what came before it.
Sophie started CAD in 2017. With 15+ years in business and 15+ years of experience in the building industry, she brings a strong understanding of construction, compliance and architectural innovation.
Her experience has varied from on-site coordination to council approvals — giving clients confidence that every design is both beautiful and buildable. That experience forms the foundation for efficient processes, adaptive problem-solving and future-ready architectural outcomes.
Nina recently joined CAD as an Architectural Designer while she completes her Master of Architecture at the University of Auckland.
Nina's pathway into architecture has been a little different — before this, she completed a Bachelor of Science with First Class Honours in Neuroscience. That experience really shaped the way she thinks about people and place, and gave her a strong curiosity about how the built environment impacts our everyday lives, our wellbeing and even our behaviour.
Now Nina is very excited to be pursuing that curiosity through design. At CAD she has been able to contribute to projects that balance technical detail with creativity, and is learning so much from working alongside such an experienced team. Nina is looking forward to working with you to help turn your vision into reality.
We're a dynamic, all-female team of young, hardworking mothers who bring passion, empathy and innovation to every project. As women empowering women, we know the value of adaptability, clear communication, and balancing big ideas with real-life needs. Our down-to-earth, flexible approach means we design with heart and hustle — always finding creative, future-focused solutions that work for real families, real budgets and real lives. At CAD, we don't just design homes; we help shape futures.
New designs, renders and finished homes, posted as they leave the studio.
Follow on InstagramNothing. We talk through your site, budget and what you're picturing, and tell you plainly whether it stacks up. You then get a fixed-fee proposal for the design work, so you know the cost before you commit to anything.
For a typical new home, allow roughly 13 to 19 weeks from first sketches to consent. Council has 20 working days to process an application, but that clock stops whenever they ask a question (an RFI). A complete, well-drawn set is the best way to keep it moving.
The brief builder above gives a timeline for your own project.
Often, yes. Since 15 January 2026, a single-storey detached dwelling up to 70 m² can be built without a building consent if it meets the exemption conditions. These include simple design, being at least 2 m from boundaries and other buildings, and Licensed Building Practitioners doing or supervising the work. You still need a PIM from council before you start, and you notify council when it's finished. Some rules change from 8 October 2026.
"No consent" doesn't mean "no plans". We design granny flats to meet every condition, so you get the speed without the risk.
Not for most homes. Our design work is led by a Licensed Building Practitioner (Design), who signs the Certificate of Design Work that council needs for restricted building work. If your project needs specialist input, such as a structural or geotechnical engineer, we bring them in and coordinate them.
The site address, a rough idea of what you want and your budget. If you have them, send your title, LIM, any council letters and photos of the site. Pinterest boards and sketches on the back of an envelope are welcome too.
Mostly Selwyn, Christchurch, Waimakariri and Hurunui, plus Queenstown Lakes and Central Otago. We've taken projects through councils from Auckland to Southland, so if your site is further afield, ask us.
Recognised by Selwyn District Council as an Approved Building Partner for 2026, the district where we take through more projects than anywhere else.
Worked with us? Leave us a Google review
Always check the LBP Register to ensure your building practitioner is licensed. Search the LBP Register
Book your free initial consultation. Send through the address, what you're picturing, and any council correspondence you've already had. We'll reply within one working day and tell you honestly what's possible.
