Draftline provides architectural drafting services across New Zealand. While we primarily work with clients in the Canterbury, Mackenzie & Central Otago area, we’re fully equipped to support projects nationwide. With digital tools and remote collaboration, we can deliver high-quality plans and guidance wherever you reside.

We work with both! Whether you're a homeowner planning your dream build or renovation, or a builder needing detailed, accurate plans , we’re here to help.
Our team tailors the process to suit your needs, ensuring clear communication and practical outcomes for every type of client.

Residential, commercial and Industrial building projects.
Anything from simple bathroom upgrade or a wall removal, right through to multi-unit residential, commercial motels and retail space, high end central otago homes or industrial buildings and anything in between.

Concept plan is the first step in visualising your project. It’s a high-level design that explores layout, form, and how your spaces could look and feel. It’s useful for early decision-making and getting initial feedback.
Working drawings, on the other hand, are detailed technical plans used for building consent and construction. They include precise dimensions, materials, structural details, and code compliance information - everything a builder and the council need to bring your project to life.

Absolutely! In fact, we prefer to act as the Agent on all projects to coordinate these processes with experience with most major Territorial Authority’s (TA) across NZ and familiarisation in documentation and online portal systems, dealing with the council approval processes can be a challenging aspect of a project for the inexperienced, we can take that pressure away and manage this process.

• Engagement / advice, design cost estimates

• Coordination with builders, territorial authoritys and other 3rd parties

• Auditing of existing construction and records

• Understand site constraints, local planning rules, and restrictions

• Ability to take client’s brief and produce concept designs

• Developed design and coordinate with other parties
  (Fire, Structural, survey, civil, acoustic, effluent, planning etc)

• Full working drawing / consent package preparation

• Lodge consents and act as your Agent and manage this process

• Construction inspections, manage design variations and solving potential issues.

• Assist with updating records and final code of compliance application as required

An RFI, or Request for Information, is a formal request from the council during the building consent process. It simply means they need more detail or clarification about certain aspects of your plans before they can approve them. Receiving an RFI is completely normal and nothing to worry about - it’s a standard part of the process for many projects. At Draftline, we take care of preparing and submitting the responses to ensure everything meets council requirements and your consent keeps moving forward smoothly.

Each Fee proposal is specifically tailored to meet the clients project. Generally fixed fees are provided for each stage, or at least an estimated range given.
Fees are for Draftline’s Architectural Design and draughting services only.
Specific exclusions are clearly spelt out and any work in this space is over and above quoted fees.
Any design variations, or additional scope is conveyed to client and estimates given before being undertaken.
Any 3rd party costs for Engineering etc are to be paid directly by client or passed on at no margin.

In many cases, yes — but it depends on the type and scale of your project. Building consent is generally required for structural work, plumbing, drainage, and anything that affects the building’s safety or compliance with the Building Code. That said, some minor work can be done without consent under New Zealand’s Schedule 1 exemptions.
At Draftline, we can advise you on whether consent is needed and guide you through the process if it is. It’s always better to check first — we’re here to help you get it right from the start. However in all cases, ultimate the Territorial Authority has the final say.

Yes, absolutely. Over the years, we’ve built strong relationships with trusted builders or engineers and other industry professionals. We’re happy to recommend reliable contacts who align with your project needs and values. Whether you need a full team or just a specialist, we can connect you with the right people to keep your project running smoothly from start to finish.