Gas is the one trade where the licence matters more than the price.
Every gas job in New Zealand is restricted work: only PGDB-registered, licensed gasfitters can do it, and the paperwork afterwards is part of what you are buying. Most Auckland gasfitters quote per job, but one publishes its hourly rate, which gives you a benchmark for the smaller jobs. The expensive mistakes here are not price mistakes; they are compliance mistakes.
Is this your stream?
Gas hob or oven installs, gas fires, gas hot water (cylinder or continuous flow), new gas connections, bayonet points, gas leak repairs and safety inspections. If it involves gas pipework or a flue, it is this stream and it needs a licensed gasfitter.
A strong gas smell is not a booking, it is an evacuation: get out, do not touch switches, call 111 or your gas supplier. The gasfitter is the second call, once the immediate risk is cleared.
What it costs in Auckland
The published hourly rate
Matthews Plumbing & Gasfitting publishes $140+GST per hour for gasfitting labour plus a $60+GST admin, vehicle and sundries charge, one-hour minimum then 15-minute blocks. After hours adds $180+GST.
Installs and conversions
Hob and fire installs, new gas lines and continuous flow conversions are quoted per job across Auckland. Pipe length, flue runs and gas line capacity drive the number, so a site visit beats a phone guess.
Warranty expectations
Flowpro publishes its warranty structure: 12 months on general gas appliance servicing, up to 5 years on specific components like gas hot water cylinders, on top of manufacturer warranties. Ask what your job carries.
Auckland providers, compared
Six registered gasfitting options across the metro, grouped by what they are best at. Hover a row for the detail that matters.
Common mistakes
Letting anyone but a registered gasfitter touch gas: gasfitting is restricted work under the Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Act. Check the public register at pgdb.co.nz before booking; an unregistered install can void insurance and creates real danger.
Skipping the Gas Safety Certificate: a licensed gasfitter issues certification on completed gas work. Flowpro names it explicitly. No certificate means no proof the work was compliant, which matters at sale time and for insurance.
Buying the hob before the gasfitter visits: pipe sizing, isolation valves, ventilation and clearances decide what can go where. A $20 site check beats returning an appliance that cannot legally be connected.
Ignoring a gas smell or treating it as a plumbing call: leave the building, do not touch switches, and call 111 or your gas supplier first. The gasfitter comes after the immediate risk is cleared.
Assuming continuous flow is a straight swap: replacing a cylinder with continuous flow gas hot water involves gas line sizing, fluing and often an electrical supply. Aspen and Laser both do these conversions, but they are quoted projects, not hourly jobs.
Forgetting the appliance service schedule: gas appliances need periodic servicing to stay safe and efficient. Flowpro notes servicing warranties run 12 months, which is a hint about the service interval, not just paperwork.
FAQ
How much does a gasfitter cost in Auckland?
Matthews Plumbing & Gasfitting publishes the clearest Auckland rate: $140+GST per hour for gasfitting labour plus a $60+GST admin, vehicle and sundries charge, one-hour minimum, with after-hours adding $180+GST. Most other Auckland gasfitters quote per job, especially for installs and conversions. Ask for the rate or the fixed price before booking.
What work legally needs a registered gasfitter?
All gasfitting: installing, altering or repairing gas pipes, appliances and flues. That covers gas hobs, gas fires, gas hot water systems, new connections and gas leak repairs. It is restricted work, and only PGDB-registered and licensed gasfitters can do or supervise it.
What paperwork should I get?
A Gas Safety Certificate (certification of the gas work) from the licensed gasfitter who did the job. Keep it with your house documents; insurers and future buyers may ask for it. If the firm does not mention certification, ask before work starts.
Can I switch from a cylinder to continuous flow gas hot water?
Yes, and it frees up the cylinder cupboard while giving endless hot water, but it is a conversion project: gas line capacity, flue position and an electrical supply for the unit all need checking. Aspen Plumbing and Laser Plumbing Te Atatu both list these conversions; expect a quoted job, not an hourly one.
Who do I call if I smell gas?
If the smell is strong or inside, get out, do not touch switches or flames, and call 111 or your gas supplier's emergency line first. Once the immediate risk is cleared, a registered gasfitter finds and fixes the leak. Campbell Plumbing runs a 24/7 gasfitter line for exactly that second call.
Check the PGDB register, then book. Matthews publishes $140+GST/hr plus $60 for the smaller jobs. Flowpro covers installs Auckland-wide with named warranties and a Gas Safety Certificate. Campbell answers at 2am. Laser Te Atatu and Aspen handle West Auckland installs and continuous flow conversions. North Shore Gasfitters keeps it local on the Shore. Whatever the job, leave with the certificate.