The price gap (and what it pays for)
Imported cabins typically start around $5,000–$10,000 for a flat-pack 4×3 cabin. Our NZ-made 4.5×3 cabin starts at $35,990 fully built. That's a significant price difference at the headline.
What you're paying for with NZ-made: factory build (no DIY assembly), NZ Building Code compliance certified at build, on-the-ground warranty, NZ-sourced materials (steel chassis, NZ-made Coloursteel®, NZ joinery), and aftermarket parts availability through local suppliers.
Build quality + compliance
NZ Building Code is one of the world's stricter standards - wind, earthquake, weather-tightness all matter. NZ-made cabins are built to that code from the start. Imported cabins may or may not comply, and the certification trail can be unclear or non-existent.
For sleepouts and sheds under 10 m² where consent isn't required, the bar is lower - an imported cabin can be fine for that use. For anything you'll sleep in long-term, that you want to last 20+ years, or that needs to pass building consent, NZ-made is the safer call.
Warranty + after-sales
We warranty our builds and have a local Raglan workshop you can come back to if something needs attention. Imported cabins typically have no warranty support in NZ - if a panel fails or a window cracks, you're sourcing replacements from offshore. That can range from frustrating to impossible.
The right time to buy imported
Imported can make sense for: a non-permanent shed / storage building, a temporary structure, a budget that genuinely won't stretch to NZ-made and you're willing to take the trade-offs. For anything you'll be in long-term, NZ-made repays the difference in lifespan, comfort, and peace of mind.