How Much Do Movers Cost in Tauranga?

The Cost

Lettuce Know Logistics charges $150 an hour plus GST for one mover and a truck, or $180 plus GST for two movers and a truck, on weekdays. What movers cost in Tauranga then comes down to how many hours the job takes and the travel from our Rotorua base, and both depend on what you're moving and how ready it is on the day. Here's how it adds up, with real jobs as a guide.

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What are Lettuce Know's hourly rates?

Our weekday rates are $150 an hour plus GST for one mover and a truck, and $180 plus GST for two movers and a truck. Weekend moves are charged 10% more, and these are the same rates we publish on our contact page. Every truck carries at least a one-tonne tail lift, and we'll tell you which crew size your move needs when we quote.

Crew	Weekday rate	Weekend rate
One mover and a truck	$150 + GST an hour ($172.50 incl. GST)	$165 + GST an hour ($189.75 incl. GST)
Two movers and a truck	$180 + GST an hour ($207.00 incl. GST)	$198 + GST an hour ($227.70 incl. GST)

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How long does a house move take?

A local house move takes anything from two hours to most of a day, depending on size, access and how much is packed. George Swain's four-bedroom house went into storage in two hours, with every cabinet and piece of furniture bubble-wrapped and the truck stacked so it would come off quickly at the other end.

Valma Tanfield's move was estimated at four hours, and two of our crew had it done in two and a half. The moves that take longest are the ones where packing is still going when the truck arrives, or where the truck can't get close to the door, so tell us about stairs, long driveways and tight access when you ask for a quote. A Tauranga move from our Rotorua base also adds travel, which the next section covers.

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What does travel add to a Tauranga move?

Our Tauranga moves are run from the Rotorua base, about an hour's drive away. Travel between our base and your two addresses is part of the quote. Distance is also why a move from Rotorua or Whakatāne into Tauranga is a different job from a shift across town, and our guide to what a fair moving quote covers explains how travel, access and packing each change the number. Running bases in Rotorua and Whakatāne is how we keep travel sensible across the whole Bay.

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Do weekend moves cost more?

Yes, weekend moves are charged 10% more an hour than weekday moves, so a flexible weekday is the simplest saving there is. On the day itself, an early start at the Mount or along The Strand is often the better choice, because starting before the streets fill means less time lost to parking and carrying. If your settlement date lands on a Saturday, tell us when you book and we'll plan the crew around it.

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How can I keep the cost of my move down?

Have everything packed and ready before the truck arrives, because the hours the crew spends on the day are what you pay for. On our own numbers, a packed three-bedroom house within Whakatāne can take as little as three hours, against up to six when nothing is packed beforehand. The cheapest Tauranga move is a packed house on a weekday with a clear path from the door to the truck. Sort out anything that isn't coming with you before moving day, whether it's sold, given to family or taken to the tip, because every piece we don't load is time you don't pay for. If you only need the big furniture moved, our furniture removals Tauranga page covers that kind of job.

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What should I check before I book a mover in Tauranga?

Check what the hourly rate includes, how travel is charged and whether your insurance covers your things while the mover has them.

Is it an hourly rate or a fixed price, and does the number include GST?
How is travel charged if the crew is coming from out of town?
What will the crew move on the day, and is anything left out?
Does your contents insurance cover your things while a moving company has them, including the loading and unloading?
Are there reviews from people the mover has actually moved?

Consumer NZ's moving house checklist suggests getting a few quotes and reading several reviews before you choose, and it covers inventories and transit insurance in more detail.

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Ready to Plan Your Move?

Send us your two addresses, the number of bedrooms, any heavy pieces and a few photos, and we'll send back a straight quote. For everything else about moving in the city, see our movers Tauranga page. Just Lettuce Know!

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FAQs

Q: Is GST included in your rates?

No. Our published rates are plus GST, which is 15%. On a weekday that's $172.50 an hour including GST for one mover and a truck, and $207 an hour including GST for two movers and a truck, and at the weekend rate it's $189.75 and $227.70. When you compare quotes from different movers, check whether each one includes GST and travel, because a number that leaves them out can look cheaper than it really is.

Q: Do you charge less if the move goes faster than expected?

Yes. We don't pad quotes to a "safe" number, so if the job runs quicker, the invoice reflects it. Ned Fairlie helped get everything ready, the job took less time than expected, and James charged him less than his quote. In Ned's words: "He turned up on time and even charged less than his quoted." The other side of that is a job runs longer when packing isn't finished, the access is harder than described or there's more to move than we were told, which is why we ask for photos and access details up front.

Q: Is it cheaper if I pack the boxes myself?

Usually, yes, because you pay for the hours the crew spends on the job and packing takes a good share of them. If you have the time, pack and label your boxes and stack them near the door before the truck arrives, and leave the heavy furniture, the fragile pieces and the loading to us. If you'd rather not pack at all, we can do it for you, and we'll include those hours in the quote so you know what packing adds before the day.

Q: Is my stuff insured while you move it?

Cover for your things in transit depends on your own contents insurance, so check with your insurer before moving day. Not every contents policy covers goods in transit, and some cover the trip but not the loading and unloading, so it's worth reading the fine print and telling your insurer your moving date. On our side, the crew wraps furniture in woollen blankets and secures the load with tie-downs and lashings for the trip. If something is especially valuable or fragile, tell us when you book so we can plan how it's packed and loaded.

Q: Can Work and Income help with the cost of a move?

Sometimes. Work and Income's Moving Costs Grant can help if you're moving into accommodation and can't afford the moving costs, and it can pay for a moving company if you can't help with the move yourself, for example because of age, illness or disability. You don't need to be on a benefit to apply, but the grant has to be paid back, and it doesn't cover moving things into storage. Work and Income asks for proof of the cost, such as a quote from the moving company. Lettuce Know is a Work and Income approved supplier, so ask us for a written quote to take to your application.