01
Start with the site
Capture the legal site, proposed position, access, nearby boundaries and existing buildings early. A PIM can be useful when council-held property information may affect the project.
POLE SHED DESIGN · WAIRARAPA
Pole shed plans & engineering for Wairarapa builders.
A clearer way for Licensed Building Practitioners to shape rural shed projects across Masterton, Carterton and South Wairarapa, then move into coordinated plans, engineering and trusses/rafters.
Free to join. You only pay when you order. Preliminary pack from $99 + GST. Detailed plans with PS1 from $999 + GST. Turnaround 2–4 days. Consent-level plans, IL2 and customisation cost extra. We'll confirm the price before you commit.
CoverageMasterton · Carterton · Greytown · Featherston · MartinboroughLocal contextThree district contextsSite focusRural sites and valley conditions
01 DESIGN GROUNDED IN THE SITE
WAIRARAPA PROJECTS
Start with the details that change the design.
Wairarapa projects can cross three district council areas, each with its own planning checks and property information. For Wairarapa pole sheds, starting with a well-resolved brief makes it easier to identify the right building use, siting, access, ground information and consent pathway before detailed documentation begins.
02
Resolve the working shed
Set the intended rural use, bay arrangement, clearances, openings, cladding and internal layout around the way the building needs to operate.
03
Confirm the pathway
Check both Building Act requirements and the relevant district plan. An exemption from building consent does not remove the need to comply with other rules.
02 FROM BRIEF TO DOCUMENTS
ONE CONNECTED WORKFLOW
Resolve the project before the paperwork multiplies.
ShedSpecs keeps the decisions that shape the shed connected, from the builder brief through to plans, engineering and trusses/rafters.
- 01
Capture the project
Record the site, intended use, building dimensions and constraints that matter to the job.
- 02
Shape the shed
Develop the roof, bays, openings, cladding and internal arrangement in a guided visual workflow.
- 03
Check the pathway
Confirm the local authority, planning context and whether the work needs consent or may qualify for an exemption.
- 04
Move into detail
Submit a resolved brief for detailed plans and, where selected, professional engineering, a PS1, and the trusses or rafters.
03 LOCAL CONSENT CONTEXT
CHECK THE CURRENT REQUIREMENTS
One region does not mean one consent pathway.
Masterton District Council notes that most building work requires consent, with some Schedule 1 exemptions, and that district-plan requirements should be checked separately. For projects elsewhere in Wairarapa, the relevant Carterton or South Wairarapa process applies.
Council and MBIE links are provided as starting points only. Requirements can change, and every project should be checked against its current site, use and authority.
WHAT THE WORKFLOW CONNECTS
A better-resolved brief. A clearer path to detail.
- Guided visual project setup
- Building layout and use decisions
- Secure project and document access
- Detailed drawing pathway
- Structural engineering option
- PS1 service option
- Trusses and rafters
04 COMMON QUESTIONS
BEFORE YOU BEGIN
Useful answers for Wairarapa shed projects.
Does every pole shed need a building consent?
No. Some single-storey pole sheds and hay barns in rural zones may qualify for a Schedule 1 exemption when all statutory conditions are met. The site, size, use, span, height, setbacks and wind conditions matter, so the builder and owner should confirm the position for the specific project before work begins.
Who can use the ShedSpecs Pole Portal, and what does it cost?
The Pole Portal is free for Licensed Building Practitioners to join. You only pay when you order. A preliminary pack — preliminary plans and a full material list — is from $99 + GST, and you can skip it and go straight to detailed plans. Detailed plans with a PS1 are from $999 + GST, paid as a deposit and balance. Turnaround is 2–4 days. Consent-level plans, IL2 (Importance Level 2) plans, and customisation of a design cost extra. We'll confirm the price before you commit. You will need your LBP number to create your account.
Do you supply trusses and rafters?
Yes. Along with the plans and engineering, ShedSpecs supplies the trusses and rafters for the shed.
Can ShedSpecs help with structural engineering and a PS1?
ShedSpecs manages the design workflow and document delivery. Structural engineering and Producer Statement PS1 services are provided by Infinity Consulting Engineers Limited as a separate professional service.
Which Wairarapa council will assess the project?
That depends on the site. Masterton District Council, Carterton District Council and South Wairarapa District Council cover different parts of the region. Confirm the territorial authority from the property address before relying on local application guidance.
Does ShedSpecs only work in Masterton?
No. ShedSpecs is based in Masterton. We work most often with councils across Wairarapa, Wellington, the Hutt Valley, Kāpiti, Manawatū, Horowhenua, Rangitīkei and Tararua, but our documentation is prepared around the New Zealand Building Code and relevant New Zealand Standards, so we can support LBP builders nationwide. Site conditions, district-plan rules and council information requirements vary, so projects outside the areas we work in most often may need additional investigation, documentation or professional input.
NEARBY SERVICE AREAS
Building next door?
FOR PROPERTY OWNERS
Property owner? Ask your builder to use ShedSpecs.
Planning a pole shed on your property in Wairarapa? You're welcome here. The Pole Portal is used by Licensed Building Practitioners, so the project itself is set up through your builder. Share ShedSpecs with them and they can take it from there.
Have a question first? Our enquiry form is open to anyone, property owners included.
Send us an enquiryFOR LICENSED BUILDING PRACTITIONERS
Bring the site. Bring the brief.
We'll help connect the detail.
Free to join and design. Preliminary pack from $99 + GST, or detailed plans with PS1 from $999 + GST. You can skip the preliminary pack. Turnaround is 2–4 days. Consent-level plans, IL2 and customisation cost extra. We'll confirm the price before you commit. Have your LBP number handy.