Can New Zealand businesses partner with Timbo?
Yes. Timbo supplies New Zealand flooring businesses with Prime grade European solid oak parquet from its Melbourne warehouse, on the same partner terms as Australian partners. Freight is quoted per order, and the goods are imported into New Zealand under normal import rules. No partners are listed in New Zealand yet, so we're appointing partners now in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Hamilton, Tauranga, Queenstown and beyond.
The timing is good. New Zealand consented 41,268 new homes in the year to August 2026, up 21%, with Auckland at 17,097 in the year to June (Stats NZ).
How supply to New Zealand works
| Step | What happens | Who handles it |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Order | Email purchase order to partnerships@timbo.com.au | NZ partner |
| 2. Freight quote | Freight from Melbourne quoted for that order | Timbo |
| 3. Payment | In full upfront, unless credit terms are agreed in writing | NZ partner |
| 4. Dispatch | Goods leave Altona North, Melbourne | Timbo |
| 5. Import clearance | Customs entry, GST and biosecurity | Your customs broker will advise |
| 6. Receipt | Inspect and report defects within 3 days | NZ partner |
Lead times depend on stock and the freight route and are confirmed when you order. See delivery and lead times.
GST, duty and pricing in NZD
When goods are imported into New Zealand, GST at 15% and any other charges are handled under normal import rules. Your customs broker will advise on the amounts, the customs entry, and how a GST-registered business claims the GST back. Ask Timbo to confirm on the freight quote where its delivery responsibility ends.
Retail prices in New Zealand should be quoted in NZD with GST treatment stated. As a market guide, engineered oak flooring in New Zealand runs from about NZD $99 to $320+/m² incl. GST, with installation about $40–$150/m² (Marchand, Vienna Woods). See oak flooring cost in NZ.
Biosecurity: MPI requirements
Wood products imported into New Zealand must meet the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) import health standards (MPI). The requirements are MPI's to set and can change, so check them for each shipment rather than relying on the last one. Our MPI import guide for timber flooring explains the process. Your customs broker will confirm what documentation the shipment needs.
New Zealand is also redesigning its legal-harvest assurance system for timber (MPI). Keep an eye on it if you import timber products regularly.
Slabs in New Zealand: BRANZ guidance
About 92% of new NZ houses are built on concrete slabs, according to BRANZ figures cited by ArchiPro NZ. So most solid parquet jobs will be glue-down over concrete.
- BRANZ guidance for solid timber flooring on a slab is ≤75% relative humidity at the slab surface (BRANZ BU644).
- A 100mm slab can take four months or more to dry (PlaceMakers), which often decides when flooring can start on a new build.
- Follow the adhesive manufacturer's moisture limits and use a moisture barrier where required.
Our guide to timber flooring over a slab in NZ covers testing and preparation in more detail.
Choosing products for NZ projects
With most new homes on slabs, the subfloor usually decides the product. 18mm solid parquet suits renovations where the existing subfloor is sound and can be prepared for glue-down installation, and new builds where the slab has been given time to dry and tested. Where a slab is young, underfloor heating is planned, or the programme can't wait, engineered oak is often the more practical choice. Saying so builds trust with clients. Our solid vs engineered comparison sets out the trade-offs.
Partner support in New Zealand
NZ partners get the same program as Australian partners: wholesale pricing once the partner terms are accepted, free samples sent to New Zealand, product content and imagery, a listing in the partner directory, and homeowner enquiries referred from the website. When a New Zealander contacts Timbo, we connect them with the nearest partner, so an early NZ partner picks up enquiries from a wide area.
Language and local market notes
New Zealand clients say "timber flooring" and "wood flooring" interchangeably and talk about building consent, NZS 3604 and BRANZ, not the NCC. Write your marketing for that audience. Timbo's product content is in British/Australian spelling, which reads naturally in New Zealand too.
For the commercial case for stocking European oak in New Zealand, see wholesale oak flooring NZ.
Frequently asked questions
Can a New Zealand business become a Timbo partner?
Yes. Timbo works with flooring retailers, installers, builders, developers and designers in both Australia and New Zealand. Choose your NZ island when you apply.
How much does freight to New Zealand cost?
Freight from Melbourne is quoted per order, because it depends on volume, destination and delivery method. Ask for a quote with your purchase order.
Who pays GST on Timbo flooring shipped to NZ?
GST at 15% applies when goods are imported into New Zealand, under normal import rules. Your customs broker will advise on the amounts, who pays them for your shipment and how a GST-registered business claims GST back.
Does timber flooring need MPI clearance?
Wood products imported into New Zealand must meet MPI's import health standard requirements. Read our MPI import guide and check current requirements with MPI or your broker.
Can I sell Timbo flooring priced in NZD?
Yes. You set your own retail prices, and NZ retail prices should be shown in NZD with GST treatment stated.
Are there Timbo partners in New Zealand already?
Not yet. Timbo is appointing partners in New Zealand now, which is a good time for an NZ flooring business to apply.