Gas is the one trade where the paperwork matters as much as the pipework.
Every gas job in New Zealand, from a hob swap to a new connection, is restricted work for a registered gasfitter. No Wellington provider publishes gas prices, so the comparison is not about cost: it is about registration, specialisation and certification. Check the PGDB register, pick the firm that names your job, and file the certificate they leave behind.
Is this your stream?
Gas hobs and cookers, gas hot water (including continuous flow), gas heating, new natural gas or LPG connections, and BBQ points. All of it is restricted work, all of it needs a registered gasfitter, and all of it should end with certification paperwork.
A gas smell is not a booking, it is an evacuation: out of the building, no switches, call 111 or your gas supplier from outside. The gasfitter's leak repair visit comes after the immediate risk is cleared.
What it costs in Wellington
Why nobody publishes prices
Gas jobs vary too much for a rate card: appliance cost, pipe runs, ventilation, compliance and certification all move the number. None of the Wellington providers we reviewed publish gasfitting prices, so treat any quote-free price claim with suspicion.
The rate anchor
NZ cost guides (Flow Pro, Hey Jodie) put trade callout fees around $60–$130 with hourly rates of $90–$150+GST for licensed practitioners. Gas work follows the same structure, quoted as a fixed price per job once scope is clear.
The register check
The PGDB public register at pgdb.co.nz is free to search by name, company or town. It confirms registration class, licence status and any discipline in the last three years. Two minutes here is the cheapest insurance in this category.
Wellington providers, compared
Six providers with certified gasfitters, grouped by what they are best at. Hover a row for the detail that matters.
Common mistakes
Hiring anyone who is not on the register: gasfitting is restricted work in New Zealand. Search the Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board register at pgdb.co.nz for the person or company before you book, not after.
Doing any gas work yourself: DIY gasfitting is illegal and genuinely dangerous. It can also void your home insurance, which matters most on the day something goes wrong.
Not asking for the certification paperwork: new connections and installations come with certification (Hutt Gas names Certificates of Verification for new connections). File it; you will want it at insurance or sale time.
Ignoring a gas smell: leave the building, do not touch switches or flames, and call 111 or your gas supplier first. The gasfitter comes after the immediate risk is cleared.
Assuming every plumber is a gasfitter: plumbing and gasfitting are separate registration classes. Many Wellington firms hold both, but check the register class, not the logo on the van.
Never servicing gas appliances: gas hot water and heaters need periodic servicing to burn safely and efficiently. Book the service before the appliance tells you it needed one.
FAQ
Do I legally need a registered gasfitter?
Yes. Gasfitting is restricted work under the Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Act: it must be done or supervised by a registered, licensed gasfitter. The PGDB runs a public register at pgdb.co.nz where you can search by name, company or town, and see whether a practitioner has been disciplined in the last three years.
How much does gasfitting cost in Wellington?
None of the Wellington providers we reviewed publish gasfitting prices; every job is quoted. Standard trade rates give a rough anchor: NZ cost guides (Flow Pro, Hey Jodie) put callout fees around $60–$130 and hourly rates at $90–$150+GST for licensed trades, with the final price driven by the job, parts and certification.
What should I do if I smell gas?
Get everyone out of the building, do not touch light switches or anything electrical, do not use a flame, and call 111 or your gas supplier from outside. Once the immediate risk is cleared, a registered gasfitter (Harbour City and Garcia both list gas leak work) finds and fixes the leak.
What is the difference between a plumber and a gasfitter?
They are separate registration classes with the PGDB. Sanitary plumbing covers water and waste; gasfitting covers gas pipework and appliances. Many Wellington firms (Maxey, Garcia, Harbour City, Hutt Gas) hold both, which is why they advertise as plumbing and gas.
What paperwork should I receive?
For new connections and installations, certification confirming the work complies, such as the Certificate of Verification Hutt Gas provides with new connections. Keep it with your house documents: insurers and buyers both ask for it.
Check the PGDB register, then pick by speciality: Hutt Gas is the dedicated gas team (since 1992, 4.9 Google across 241 reviews), Maxey is the Rheem gas hot water centre, Garcia combines plumbing and gas on the same job, Southern answers 24/7, Harbour City names gas leak repairs, and Grant covers commercial and multi-trade sites. Nobody publishes prices, so compare the quote, the registration class and the certification paperwork, and leave any gas smell to 111 first.