We're Manor Build, a New Plymouth transportable home builder, so we've included ourselves in this list. We've done our best to keep the rundown fair and useful, because if you're weighing up your options, an honest overview helps everyone.
Why choose a transportable or prefab home?
A transportable home is built in a factory and delivered to your site, rather than built piece by piece where it will stand. That single difference is where most of the benefits come from:
- Cost certainty. A fixed price can be set at the start, because the design options and build process are standardised. Fewer surprises than a traditional on-site build.
- Faster to build. Work happens under cover on a production line, so weather delays and on-site hold-ups are largely designed out.
- Consistent quality. Building indoors, to a repeatable process, means materials stay dry and quality control is easier to maintain.
- Less disruption on your land. The bulk of the construction happens off-site, with site works and connections completed once the home is delivered.
What makes a good transportable home builder?
Before you compare companies, it helps to know what separates a good builder from a great one. Here's what's worth checking:
- Local knowledge. A builder who knows Taranaki councils, soil conditions and rural sites will handle consents and delivery far more smoothly.
- A full-service approach. The best builders manage the whole journey, design, consents, build, delivery, foundations and sign-off, so you're not left coordinating trades yourself.
- Clear, honest pricing. Look for a builder who is upfront about what's included in the price and what costs extra (site works, connections, landscaping).
- Quality and specification. Ask what's standard versus an upgrade. Some "from" prices leave out flooring, paint or appliances.
- A guarantee and a track record. Years in business, homes delivered, and a warranty you can rely on all matter.
- Somewhere to see the work. Being able to walk through a completed home tells you more than any brochure.
Transportable home builders serving Taranaki & the lower North Island
Here are the builders designing, building and delivering transportable homes in the Taranaki region and across the lower and mid North Island.
Manor Build
Based in New Plymouth, Manor Build designs and builds full-size transportable and prefab homes for families across Taranaki and the wider North Island. With 30+ years of building experience, a 3,000m² weatherproof factory in New Plymouth, and an end-to-end service from design through to sign-off, Manor Build focuses on high-specification homes that don't feel "transportable" once you're inside.
Key points
- 30+ years of building experience; based and built in New Plymouth
- Full-service: Custom design, consents, build, delivery and foundations managed for you
- Homes from two to four bedrooms, roughly 50m² to 140m²
- Delivers across the North Island - Taranaki, Manawatū-Whanganui, Hawke's Bay, Wellington, Bay of Plenty, Waikato and Showhome you can visit: the Okato 3 Max (a 123m² three-bedroom home) on display at the New Plymouth yard
- Publishes real, itemised pricing so you can budget with confidence
Location: New Plymouth, Taranaki. Delivering throughout the North Island.
Transbuild
Transbuild builds architecturally designed prefab homes delivered complete and ready to connect to services, not kitsets to assemble on site. They deliver throughout the North Island.
Key points
- Architecturally designed prefab homes
- Delivered fully finished, ready to connect
- Delivers to Aucklandand across the North Island
Location: Delivers throughout the North Island.
Presidential Homes
Based in Palmerston North, Presidential Homes designs and builds custom prefabricated transportable homes across the lower North Island. With over 30 years of construction expertise and more than a decade focused specifically on transportable homes for Kiwi families and investors, they offer a full-service build process from design through to delivery, with a focus on flexible customisation and transparent pricing.
Key points
- Over 30 years of building expertise; based in Palmerston North
- Custom-designed transportable homes with flexible personalisation options
- Full project management from design through delivery
- Delivers across the lower North Island, including Hawke's Bay, Wairarapa and Manawatū
Location: Palmerston North, Manawatū.
Built Smart
Built Smart is a family-owned business based in Huntly, Waikato, building transportable modular homes since 1982. With over 40 years in the construction industry and additional factory sites in Feilding and Gisborne, they build prefab homes under cover across 50 construction bays, with construction up to 40 percent faster than conventional building methods.
Key points
- Family-owned, over 40 years in business; based in Huntly, Waikato
- Additional factory sites in Feilding (Manawatū) and Gisborne
- Seven models from 69m² (two-bedroom) to 122m² (four-bedroom), including a two-storey design
- NZ Certified Builders Association member with ISO accreditation
- Delivers throughout the greater North Island
Location: Huntly, Waikato. Additional factories in Feilding and Gisborne.
Greenhaven Homes
Operating from a purpose-built facility in Levin, Greenhaven Homes brings over 29 years of industry experience to transportable, modular and custom-built homes. Their range spans from compact 40m² pods through to four-bedroom architect-designed homes, with fixed pricing and a focus on sustainability and energy efficiency.
Key points
- Based in Levin, over 29 years of industry experience
- Wide product range: one- to four-bedroom homes, modular builds, minor dwellings and 40m² pods
- Fixed pricing with a focus on sustainability and energy efficiency
- Members of Offsite NZ, NZ Certified Builders and Licensed Building Practitioners
Location: Levin, Horowhenua.
Pure Homes
Based in Palmerston North, Pure Homes builds transportable modular homes and commercial buildings in an off-site facility and delivers throughout the North Island, a relevant option for the Manawatū and lower North Island end of the region.
Key points
- Palmerston North base, delivering across the North Island
- Transportable modular homes and commercial buildings
- Strong fit for Manawatū and the lower North Island
Location: Palmerston North, Manawatū.
Elevate Architectural Transportables
Based in Cambridge, Waikato, Elevate builds award-winning architectural transportable homes with an emphasis on contemporary design. With an in-house architectural and interior design team, they offer nine standard plans from 70m² to 154m² as well as fully bespoke designs. Featured on TVNZ 1's Moving Houses.
Key points
- Based in Cambridge, Waikato
- Award-winning architectural transportable homes
- Nine standard models from 70m² to 154m², plus custom bespoke designs
- In-house architectural and interior design team
- Show home available for visits in Cambridge
Location: Cambridge, Waikato.
Ezyline Homes
A family-owned builder with close to two decades supplying entry level, high-quality transportable homes, Ezyline has manufacturing sites in Feilding and Mount Maunganui and delivers across the North Island, including the Whanganui and Manawatū areas.
Key points
- Family-owned, close to 20 years in business
- Manufacturing in Feilding and Mount Maunganui
- Delivers across the North Island
Location: Feilding and Mount Maunganui.
How much does a transportable home cost in Taranaki?
For a full-size, fully finished transportable home, expect a starting price from around $226,000 for a 60m² two-bedroom home, up to around $390,000 for a 140m² four-bedroom home. Smaller cabins and entry-level two-bedroom units from some builders start lower (from the high-$80,000s), but these are generally more basic in size and specification.
That home price is only part of the total. A realistic all-up budget also needs to allow for:
- Consents and compliance - roughly $10,000–$25,000
- Delivery and foundations - roughly $15,000–$45,000, depending on distance and site
- Decks and verandas - roughly $5,000–$25,000
- Service connections (power, water, wastewater) - roughly $12,000–$30,000
- Landscaping, driveways and fencing - roughly $5,000–$25,000
As a guide, a completed Manor Build project, home plus site works, typically lands somewhere between $288,000 and $403,000 depending on the plan, the site and the finishes you choose. A simple two-bedroom on a serviced section sits at the lower end; a larger home on a rural section needing engineered foundations sits toward the top.
Your checklist for choosing a builder
- Know your budget - and make sure the quote you compare includes site works, not just the home.
- Choose local where you can - or confirm the builder delivers to your site and knows your council.
- Check what's included - ask exactly what's standard and what's an upgrade.
- Ask about timeframes - and whether the builder will commit to them.
- Go and see a home - a showhome or completed build tells you more than a brochure.
- Check the guarantee - and how long the builder has been operating.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need consent for a transportable home in Taranaki? Yes, a transportable home generally needs a building consent, and often a second consent covering relocation and foundations, lodged with the relevant councils. A full-service builder will manage this process for you. (Note: rules for small standalone dwellings and granny flats changed on 15 January 2026, see below.)
Can I build a granny flat without a building consent in 2026? In many cases, yes. From 15 January 2026, a single detached dwelling up to 70m² can be built without a building consent, provided it meets the conditions of the exemption and the work is carried out or supervised by licensed professionals. A Project Information Memorandum (PIM) from your council is still required before work starts.
How long does a transportable home take to build? Factory construction is typically a matter of weeks, with the overall journey from sign-up to move-in running a few months depending on consents and site works. Because the home is built under cover, weather delays are largely removed.
Can transportable homes be delivered to rural Taranaki sites? Yes. Rural and lifestyle sites are common in Taranaki. Access, site levels and foundations are assessed as part of the process, and any additional site works are factored into your quote.
Can I visit a showhome? Yes - you can walk through Manor Build's Okato 3 Max showhome, a 123m² three-bedroom home, at our New Plymouth display yard. It's the best way to see the size and specification of a full-size transportable home for yourself.
Ready to explore a transportable home in Taranaki?
If you'd like to see what a full-size, high-spec transportable home really looks like, come and visit our Okato 3 Max showhome in New Plymouth, or get in touch for a plan and quote tailored to your site.
