High Country Homes was established to cater principally for farm houses and lifestyle homes in Canterbury, New Zealand. Our services also include lodges, rural retreats, baches, and implement buildings such as barns and sheds.

In addition, we build investment units, new houses, and do alterations and maintenance in the centres.

All around the South Island of New Zealand

We tackle building projects in the Christchurch and Canterbury district including areas such as Rakaia, Oxford, Rangiora, Waipara, Hamner, Kaikoura, Arthers Pass, Nelson, Marlborough Sounds and Murchison. Work further south is also considered.

Quality work – every time

Most of our work is architectural and to a very high standard. We are in the gold award winning category of the Master Builders. We try to be down to earth and practical when dealing with our clientele.

It is our preference to run only a few jobs at a time. This ensures good communication and attention to detail. People can expect a friendly design, consent and build process. Alternatively house plans that you already have can be priced.

Competitive quotes

Our costs are very competitive and we provide people with detailed quotations so they can see clearly where their money is being spent. After a free initial concept an appropriate designer is chosen depending on the scale and style of the project. An interior design service is also available.

Manager Simon Banks has been contracting in Canterbury for 17 years and has noticed that many New Zealanders and ex-patriots are now looking to the rurals as a relatively safe haven for their families. He has noticed that particularly Australian, South African and English immigrants are seeing the value in rural country over the local people, and think nothing of a 30 minute drive to a main centre.

Blending in with the environment

One of our objectives is to complement the environment.

Real estate agents have told us that many people ruin their land and investment by building inappropriate “cheap” boxes with little thought to style, layout, landscaping or siting. We aim to help people come up with something better than this. Even a smaller home should fit in with the surroundings and be practical for the land it is on, as well as looking the part; little extra needs to be spent to accomplish this.

Therefore we encourage the use of timeless building materials. Telling the age of a home should be difficult, that way it will never belong to a particular era or go out of fashion. This ultimately protects our customer’s resale.

In addition, much can be done to install products for self sufficiency such as solar panels, rain water collection and logburners etc.

Looking for a second opinion?

Sometimes people have contacted us for a second opinion about their project. Please feel free to do so, often only a few changes can make a world of difference.

High Country Homes aims to remind people of the way they are meant to live, in the country. Where possible practical aspects of outdoor life are being incorporated into our homes by outdoor people.