Civil, Structural & Geotechnical Engineering Across New Zealand

You should engage an engineer early when planning building, structural repairs, subdivision, earthworks, retaining walls, foundation or land development work. Early advice can confirm whether your project is feasible, identify civil, geotechnical or structural risks, and reduce the chance of redesign, consent delays or unexpected costs later.

Engineering input is often needed where a project sits outside standard building provisions, involves challenging ground conditions, or may affect stability, drainage, public infrastructure or legal boundaries.

If you are unsure, an early conversation is usually the best step. We can confirm what engineering input is needed and set out a clear path before you commit to design or lodge consents.

Often, yes. A geotechnical report is commonly needed when ground conditions could affect foundations, retaining walls, earthworks, drainage, natural hazards or subdivision layout. Councils may also require one as part of a building or resource consent application. 

A geotechnical investigation helps confirm what the ground can support, identify risks such as settlement, slope instability or liquefaction, and give your design team the information needed to make practical decisions. 

Some smaller projects on known, stable ground may not need a full report. The clearest way to find out is an early conversation. We can confirm whether a report is likely to be needed, what level of investigation is appropriate, and how it fits your consent pathway. 

Yes. We assess damage to homes, commercial buildings and infrastructure caused by storms, floods, landslips, earthquakes, ground movement and other events. 

Our property damage assessments are independent and evidence-based. We investigate the likely cause and extent of damage, document our observations clearly, and provide practical repair or remediation advice where required. 

We work with homeowners, insurers, loss adjusters, councils and legal advisers. Our reports are prepared to be clear, traceable and defensible, whether they are being used for an insurance claim, council process, expert review or dispute. 

If your property has been affected, get in touch and tell us what has happened. We can explain how an assessment works and what the next step should be. 

A producer statement is a professional document used to support a building consent or construction sign-off. It confirms that a specific part of the design or construction has been designed, reviewed or observed by an appropriate professional. 

The common types are PS1 for design, PS2 for design review, PS3 for construction, and PS4 for construction review. Councils may request one where they need engineering assurance for part of a project. 

Cook Costello can provide producer statements for work within our civil, geotechnical and structural engineering scope. If a council has asked for a producer statement, send us the request and we can explain what is needed, who needs to provide it, and what the next step should be. 

Read more about Producer Statements. 

Both. We work on residential projects as well as commercial, land development and infrastructure projects, from a single home, retaining wall or foundation through to subdivisions and major civil works. 

Smaller projects still get practical engineering advice, clear communication and direct access to the people doing the work. Whether you are a homeowner dealing with a tricky site, a builder who needs a producer statement, or a developer planning a subdivision, we scale the scope to what your project actually needs. 

If you are not sure whether your project is the right type or size for us, get in touch and tell us what you are planning. We can let you know how we can help and what the next step looks like. 

Not much to begin with. A short description of your project, the site, and roughly what stage you are at is enough for an initial conversation. 

If you have them, it helps to send the site address or location, any plans or drawings, council correspondence, consent conditions, and your expected timeframe. For damaged property, photos of the damage are also useful. 

If you do not have these yet, that is fine. Get in touch and tell us what you are planning or what has happened. We can let you know what engineering input may be needed and what the next step looks like.