How Much Does a Website Cost in New Zealand?

Your wanting to get a website made for your business, so what will it cost?

If I had a dollar for every time someone asked me what a website costs, I’d be sitting on a tropical island somewhere. It’s hands down the most common question I get as a web designer in Tauranga, and while it’s tempting to say “how long is a piece of string?”, I know that’s not helpful. The truth is, there are a lot of variables that affect the cost of designing and building a website. But let’s cut through the fluff—here’s what you can actually expect to pay in New Zealand today.

1) Cost: $0 (DIY Builders)

Platforms like Wix, Squarespace, and Shopify Starter promise you can build your own site for “free” and just pay monthly hosting. If you’ve got the time, patience, and a strong coffee habit, this can work. Just keep in mind: your time isn’t free. We often get calls from business owners who have poured 100 hours into building their own site, only to find out it doesn’t look right, doesn’t rank, and doesn’t actually bring in business. If you value your time at $50 an hour, your “free” site just cost you five grand - and a few headaches along the way.

2) Cost: $500 to $1,000 (Overseas Contractors)

You’ll get emails from people offering to build you a site for next to nothing. Sometimes, you might get lucky. But be ready for time zone chaos, language barriers, and support that disappears faster than a chocolate fish at a staff meeting. I’ve been down this road myself. Sometimes you end up with a half-finished site and a developer who’s now breeding goats somewhere in the hills of Nepal.

3) Cost: $500 to $2,000 (Local Hobbyist/Jack-of-all-Trades)

Everyone’s got a mate who “does websites.” Maybe it’s your neighbour’s cousin or someone who just discovered HTML. You’ll get a site, but it might look like it was designed in 2008. Think rainbow borders, clip art, and about 32 different fonts. My advice: always ask to see their previous work, and if they don’t have their own site, that’s a red flag.

4) Cost: $20,000 and up (Old-School Agencies)

You’ll get the red carpet: big meetings, project managers, and a site that comes with a training manual the size of War and Peace. These companies do good work, but you’ll pay for their office lease and “proven process.” The CMS will be so complicated you’ll forget how to use it after the first week, and every little change turns into another invoice. I’ve seen clients trapped in contracts with these agencies, stuck with slow, outdated websites they can’t update themselves.

5) Cost: $3,000 to $10,000 (Modern NZ Web Studio)

This is where What the Heck fits in. The industry has changed—most good web designers in NZ use modern platforms like Shopify, Webflow, or WordPress (the right way) to keep things simple, flexible, and cost-effective. We’re not about black boxes or jargon. We focus on what actually works: sites that look good, work on every device, and turn visitors into customers. We work out what makes your business tick, research your market and competitors, and deliver a custom site that does the job. Less money wasted on bloated code, more spent on SEO, visual identity, and content that actually brings you business.

The Bottom Line

Like most things in life, you get what you pay for. The “free” or cheap option can be tempting, but if you want a website that’s actually going to grow your business and last the distance, invest in something done properly. If you’re not sure where you fit on this list, or you want an honest chat about what’s best for your business, get in touch. We’re always up for a coffee and a straight answer.