Our homes are designed as relocatable, off‑grid dwellings – perfect for personal land, Māori whenua, or papakāinga.

While many councils do not require building consent for off-grid, relocatable homes, the rules can vary by region.

We strongly recommend contacting your local council to confirm whether consent is needed for your situation.

Although we don’t manage the consent process ourselves, we’re happy to point you in the right direction with trusted builders, engineers, or tradies if needed.

Q: How do payments work?
A: We require a 50% deposit to start your build. The remaining 50% balance must be paid before shipping. The supplier will not release the whare until this payment is received. Deposits are non-refundable once the build has started.

Q: What happens if I don’t pay the final balance?
A: If the balance is not paid when due, Māori In Business Limited may resell the whare. Any deposit already paid will be forfeited to cover costs.

Q: When does ownership transfer to me?
A: Once all funds are received, you will sign an ownership transfer contract (via DocuSign). At that point, the whare is legally yours, and all responsibility for insurance and care transfers to you.

Q: Is insurance included?
A: Every whare is insured by our supplier from the factory in China through to arrival at the New Zealand port (Auckland, Tauranga, Christchurch, or Lyttelton).

You will also receive:

• Photos or video of your whare being loaded into the container
   
• Photos or video of the container being sealed
   
• The official container seal number
   
• A copy of the bill of lading
   

This provides proof that your whare has been shipped safely and securely.

Q: Do I need extra insurance in New Zealand?
A: From the port to your whenua, insurance is the customer’s responsibility. For peace of mind, we recommend arranging Buildings in Transit insurance with a New Zealand insurance broker to cover customs clearance, devanning, trucking, and swing-lift delivery.

Q: Who looks after delivery in New Zealand?
A: Our freight partners handle customs clearance, devanning, trucking, and can supply swing-lift delivery from the port to your whenua. Delivery costs vary depending on your site location and will be confirmed once we have your address.

Q: What do I need to prepare on my site?
A: You’ll need a level and square ground base (either on piles or concrete). You’ll also need local tradespeople for:

• Cupboards, kitchen sink & benchtop installation
   
• Exterior sealing
   
• Roof and decking setup
   
• Plumbing, septic system, water pump installation
   
• Electrical connection/sign-off by a licensed electrician
   

Water tanks can be organised directly through the suppliers listed on our Trades & Services page.