# NZ heat-pump installed pricebook

**Version:** 0.1 · **Reviewed:** 15 September 2026 · **Currency:** NZD, supply and standard installation where the source states this.

This replaces the earlier unsourced installation assumptions in the calculator. Ranges are deliberately broad because access, pipe length, switchboard work, brackets, condensate drainage, brand, unit capacity and regional labour can move a quote materially. They are a planning range, not a quote or a price promise.

## Published evidence

| System scope | Published NZ ranges found | Planning range used | Evidence confidence |
|---|---:|---:|---|
| Single high-wall split, one room | $1,500–$6,000 (General Air Stage); $1,700–$4,000 (Mitre 10); $2,000–$5,000 (Budget Electrical); $2,500–$6,500 (Air Conditioning Group); $2,000–$4,500 (Varcoe) | **$2,000–$6,500** | Medium: five current published ranges, mostly contractor/retailer guides |
| Multi-split, several indoor heads | $4,000–$7,000 (Varcoe); $5,000–$7,000+ (Varcoe Auckland); $6,000–$10,000 (Tradie Tools) | **$5,000–$10,000** | Low–medium: three published ranges; head count and pipe runs are highly variable |
| Ducted, whole-home distribution | $8,000–$15,000+ (Varcoe); $15,000–$35,000+ (Tradie Tools); $7,000–$15,000 for a build package including ventilation and heat pump (The Heating Company) | **$10,000–$35,000** | Low: wide spread and scope differences; engineered design required |

Sources: [Mitre 10 installation guide](https://www.mitre10.co.nz/services/heat-pump-installation), [General Air Stage NZ cost guide](https://www.generalairstage.co.nz/help-centre/helpful-articles/details/split-system-air-conditioner-installation-cost), [Budget Electrical](https://budgetelectrical.co.nz/heat-pump-installation/), [Air Conditioning Group](https://www.airconditioninggroup.co.nz/blog/heat-pump-cost-nz/), [Varcoe Auckland pricing](https://www.varcoe.co.nz/service/heat-pump-installation-cost-auckland/), [Varcoe 2026 guide](https://www.varcoe.co.nz/blogs/heat-pump-cost-nz/), [Tradie Tools](https://tradietools.nz/articles/winter-heat-pump-buying-guide-nz-2026/), and [The Heating Company build guide](https://www.theheatingcompany.co.nz/download/ventilation-for-new-zealand-building-standards/).

## Regional handling

The calculator applies a small planning index to the national range: Auckland 1.05, Hamilton 1.00, Wellington 1.12, Christchurch 1.03, Dunedin 1.10 and other regions 1.04. These are **transparent planning adjustments**, not a claim that the cited sources provide a statistically representative city quote sample. Wellington and Dunedin are flagged higher for access, weather and labour variability; the result still displays the national evidence range after adjustment.

## What this gate does and does not prove

- **Passed:** the calculator now uses a dated, source-linked NZ pricebook instead of hidden provisional numbers.
- **Still needed for production-grade pricing:** at least 20 written quotes or supplier schedules, with GST status and scope normalised, split by city and system type. Until then, keep the confidence labels and broad ducted range visible.
- Retail product prices are not substituted for installed prices. For example, Mitre 10 lists individual units separately and states that professional installation is required.
- EECA grant figures are kept separate from the pricebook. A grant is an eligibility scenario and does not change the gross installed-price range.

## Collection format for the next refresh

Capture each quote as: `date`, `city`, `system_type`, `capacity_kw`, `indoor_head_count`, `new_or_replace`, `standard_or_complex_install`, `includes_unit`, `includes_electrical`, `includes_disposal`, `gst_included`, `price_nzd`, `source_url`, and `notes`. Use median and 20th/80th percentiles by city and scope, and retain the original quote for auditability.