Designed in Aotearoa
Every home begins with a New Zealand design framework — culturally grounded, code-compliant, and built for how whānau actually live.
How we build · Process & timelines
From first kōrero
to keys on whenua.
Building a home shouldn't be the hardest thing a whānau ever does. Our process is built to remove the guesswork — clear stages, fixed pricing, and a team that's walked the path before.
— The Te Pūtake way
Three layers, one whakaaro.
Manufactured at scale
Hybrid international and local manufacturing built to New Zealand specification, improving affordability and delivery without compromising quality.
Installed on whenua
Local delivery and installation, supporting regional economies and ensuring site-specific excellence on every build.
— The seven steps
From kōrero to handover.
You'll always know where things stand and what happens next — from the first conversation to the day you step onto your whenua.
01 Kōrero
Week 0 · No cost, no obligation
We start with a conversation — about your whenua, your whānau, and what you're trying to build. Whether you're a single family returning home, an iwi trust planning papakāinga, or a developer at scale, this is where we listen first.
What we cover
- Your site, location, and access
- Your whānau size and how you want to live
- Funding pathways available to you (Te Puni Kōkiri, Kāinga Ora, private finance, or commercial)
- Which of our three home tiers fits — Kākano, Tipu, or Rākau
Outcome
A clear sense of whether Te Pūtake is the right partner, and what comes next.
02 Site & feasibility
Weeks 1–3
We assess your whenua remotely first, then in person if needed. For papakāinga and Māori land developments, we work alongside the Māori Land Court process and help you navigate landowner consents, trust structures, and dispersed ownership.
What we cover
- Remote site review (access, slope, services, soil indicators)
- Council and zoning checks
- Māori land tenure and consent guidance where relevant
- Funding eligibility assessment and application support
Outcome
A feasibility report and indicative pricing, so you can make an informed decision before committing.
03 Design & selections
Weeks 3–6
You choose your home from the Te Pūtake range — Kākano (entry), Tipu (whānau), or Rākau (legacy) — and tailor it to your site. Layouts are pre-engineered to NZ code, which is what makes scale possible without sacrificing quality or compliance.
What we cover
- Floorplan configuration
- Exterior cladding and colour (Pounamu, Pō, Awa, Kōkōwai, or Whetū)
- Interior finishes and fixtures
- Optional upgrades (solar, water systems, decking, accessibility)
Outcome
Confirmed plans, finishes, and a fixed-price contract ready for signing.
04 Consents & approvals
Weeks 6–14
We manage building consent, resource consent where required, and all engineering documentation. Because our homes are pre-engineered and code-compliant by design, consent timeframes are typically faster than traditional builds.
What we cover
- Building consent lodgement
- Resource consent (if required)
- Engineering, structural, and services design
- Liaison with council, surveyors, and your funder
Outcome
Consents approved, your home enters the build program.
05 Manufacture
Weeks 14–22
Your home is built off-site in a controlled factory environment — protected from weather delays, with consistent quality and full traceability. You receive regular progress updates with photos at key milestones.
What we cover
- No weather delays
- Tighter quality control
- Faster total timeline (factory build runs in parallel with on-site preparation)
- Less disruption to your whenua
Outcome
Your home is complete, inspected, and ready for transport.
06 Site preparation
Runs parallel to manufacture · Weeks 14–22
While your home is being built, our local team prepares the site — foundations, services, access, and any earthworks. Running these in parallel is how modular building cuts months off traditional construction timelines.
What we cover
- Foundation and piling
- Power, water, and wastewater connections
- Driveway and access
- Site-specific landscaping prep
Outcome
Whenua ready to receive your home.
07 Delivery, install & handover
Week 22–24
Your home is transported to site and installed — typically in a single day for individual homes, with multi-unit papakāinga staged across a programmed schedule. Final connections, quality checks, and a formal handover follow.
What we cover
- Transport and craning
- Service connections and final fitout
- Quality inspections and code of compliance
- Handover, with a karakia or whakatau if your whānau wishes
Outcome
Keys in your hand. A home on the whenua.
— Roles & responsibilities
What we handle / what you handle
Te Pūtake takes care of
- Design and cultural framework
- Funding pathway guidance (TPK, Kāinga Ora, commercial)
- Council and resource consents
- Engineering and compliance
- Factory build and quality assurance
- Transport and installation
- Handover and warranty
You and your whānau take care of
- Confirming your whenua and access rights
- Trust or legal entity setup (we'll guide you to the right partners)
- Finance approval or grant application
- Final design selections by agreed dates
- Power, water, and service accounts in your name
— Funding your build
Pathways that fit your whenua.
Most whānau and iwi we work with combine multiple funding sources. We'll help you understand what's available and how to apply.
For whānau on Māori land
- Te Puni Kōkiri — Whai Kāinga Whai Oranga grants
- Kāinga Whenua loan (Kiwibank, in partnership with Te Puni Kōkiri)
- Progressive Home Ownership schemes
For iwi trusts and papakāinga developments
- Te Puni Kōkiri small-scale papakāinga funding (3–10 homes)
- Ministry of Housing and Urban Development
- Tribal commercial entities and post-settlement governance entities
For community housing providers and government
- Kāinga Ora partnership pathways
- Community Housing Regulatory Authority funded providers
- Income-Related Rent Subsidy (IRRS) eligible builds
For developers and private builds
- Standard construction finance, with fixed-price contracts and milestone-based draw-downs
— How long does it take?
Typical timelines
A typical Te Pūtake build runs 5–7 months from contract to handover — compared to 12–18 months for a traditional build of equivalent size.
For papakāinga (multi-home) projects, total programme runs 9–18 months depending on scale and consent complexity, with homes delivered in a staged sequence.
— Why our process works
Built for trust.
Fixed pricing
Your contract price is the price you pay. No mid-build surprises.
Weather-proof timelines
Off-site manufacturing means rain doesn't stop your build.
Faster consents
Pre-engineered homes move through council faster than custom builds.
Cultural integrity
We work within Te Ao Māori — not as a layer, as a foundation.
Compliance built-in
Every home meets or exceeds New Zealand Building Code requirements.
One team, end-to-end
No subcontractor handoffs, no finger-pointing. We own it from kōrero to keys.
— See it in action
Whare Oneke · Opening day
Watch a Te Pūtake home arrive on whenua and the moment of handover — the same journey your whānau can expect.
— Three doorways
One process, many whānau.
— Frequently asked
Questions answered.
How much does a Te Pūtake home cost?
Pricing varies by home tier and site. Our entry-level Te Whare Kākano is priced after site assessment, with Te Whare Tipu and Te Whare Rākau scaling up from there. We provide fixed pricing once feasibility is complete.
Can I build on Māori land?
Yes. Most of our work is on Māori land. We help navigate landowner consents, trust structures, and Te Puni Kōkiri funding pathways.
How long does the whole process take?
Single homes typically run 5–7 months from contract to handover. Papakāinga developments run 9–18 months depending on scale.
Do you build outside New Zealand?
We deliver across Aotearoa and select Pacific markets. Talk to us about your location.
What happens if my site is difficult to access?
Most sites are workable — we assess access as part of feasibility. Difficult sites may need additional craning or staging, which we cost upfront.
Are Te Pūtake homes compliant with the NZ Building Code?
Yes. Every home is engineered and built to meet or exceed NZBC requirements, with full code of compliance on handover.
Can I customise the design?
Within the tier you choose, yes — layouts, finishes, and key features. Full custom designs sit outside our standard process.
— Ready to start the kōrero?
Let's talk about your whenua.
Whether you're one whānau or planning a 30-home papakāinga, the first conversation is the same — free, no obligation, and grounded in what's actually possible on your whenua.