Worth showing up for

We’re growing — and we need good builders to grow with us. Not just anyone. We want carpenters who think, take ownership, and care about what they build. You’ll be working alongside people who hold themselves to exactly the same standard and who’ll back you to get there.

APPLY NOW

SEE THE ROLE

build something

CARPENTER POSITIONS · 2026

$40–$48

Mon–Fri

Wellington

Per hour, contracting

7:30am – 4:30pm

All projects

Peaky Builders is a Wellington construction company with a strong forward pipeline of reclads, renovations and architectural builds. We’re building something long-term — not just a project list, but a crew of people who are genuinely good at their trade and better for being around each other.We’re selective because the person standing next to you on site matters.

WHY BUILDERS CHOOSE US

What you Actually get!

CONTRACTING RATE

$40–$48
Per Hour

Newly qualified starts at $40/hr and works up. Strong, proven experience earns towards the top. Rates reviewed as you grow with us.

We work on a contracting basis — you invoice us weekly and manage your own tax. Below is a full breakdown of what that looks like in practice, alongside how contracting compares to other arrangements so you can see exactly what you’re getting into.

Your pay, broken down

As a contractor, your hourly rate is higher than an employed equivalent — and that’s intentional. It’s built to cover the things an employer would otherwise handle for you. Here’s how to think about it.

These are estimates only — your actual tax rate will depend on your total income and deductions. The leave and sick buffers sit in your account and are yours to use when you take time off. A tool like HNRY can automate the tax side entirely. If you’d like help thinking through your own numbers, just ask us — we’re happy to walk you through it.

The key mindset shift: Your $44/hr isn’t your “salary” — it’s your gross revenue. Once you start thinking about it that way, budgeting becomes straightforward. Set aside your tax and leave buffers weekly, keep the rest as your working income. We’ll share a simple budgeting guide with anyone who comes on board.

UNDERSTANDING YOUR RATE

Understanding the arrangements

Straightforward and familiar. The right choice when contracting isn't right for you yet.

Fixed hourly

Holiday pay, sick leave & KiwiSaver handled for you
Tax deducted at source — zero admin
Employment protections apply
Lowest take-home of the three options
No deductions available against income

HOW IT WORKS

We work on a contracting basis — that’s how our crew operates. The table below explains what each arrangement actually involves so you know exactly what contracting with Peaky looks like, and how it compares to the other two ways builders typically work.

Wages (PAYE)

Every dollar you spend on things you’d buy anyway comes out pre-tax. The tax benefits of running your own business, without the headache.

$40 -$48/Hr

Work fed to you. Pipeline planned, clients handled. Invoice weekly, paid weekly.
Claim tools, consumables, vehicle & fuel, work clothes & boots
Mobile phone, home office, trade accounts, training, accounting software
HNRY recommended (~$1.50/$100 earned — handles GST, tax, ACC & invoicing automatically)
GST monthly, tax annually — we guide you through it
Most crew spend under an hour a month on admin

Contracting to Peaky

RECOMMENDED

Highest headline rate on paper — but you’re running a business on top of being a builder. Most people are surprised by how much that costs in time and stress.

Highest on paper

Same deductions as contracting apply
You’re also the estimator, sales person, client manager, debt collector and marketer
On the tools and off them — simultaneously
No pipeline unless you build one yourself
A quiet month means no pay
Admin load 5–10× higher than contracting

Sole trader

New to contracting? We’ve got you.

If you’ve always been employed and this is new territory — that’s completely fine. We’re not looking for people with business experience. We’re looking for good builders.

We can walk you through the setup: getting your IRD sorted, setting up HNRY, building a simple weekly budget. Most people are surprised by how straightforward it is once someone just explains it clearly.

What Contracting Actually Involves

A lot of builders use “contracting” and “running your own trade business” interchangeably — but they’re very different arrangements. What Peaky offers is deliberately designed to give you the financial upside of contracting without the overhead and complexity of running your own trade business.

BEFORE YOU APPLY — READ THIS

Wellington, Top to bottom

Our projects run across the Wellington region — from Paraparaumu and Upper Hutt down through the city and out to Seatoun and Island Bay. If you’re based anywhere in Greater Wellington, we’re likely already working near you.

where we work

Who Thrives here?

Coachable & Accountable

You take feedback on board, own your mistakes and keep improving. No ego. People who think they know everything don’t last here.

Team first

Some days are tough. Good builders back their team, communicate clearly and help get the job done without being asked.

Respect everyone

Remember that each client is investing in their property and trust in our work is critical, be respectful to everyone on-site. We share this mentality across the whole team.

Think like a Builder not a Labour

We don’t want people waiting for instructions all day. See a problem then come up with a solution. Your brain is as important as your tools. Treat each job like it’s yours because when the business wins, everyone wins.

Pride in the Craft

You care about the finish, the details and leaving a site knowing you did quality work. The kind of work you’d want your name on.

CULTURE & STANDARDS

Good crews don’t happen by accident.

Good crews don’t happen by accident. Every person on site holds these standards and every person on site backs you to meet them. You’re not walking in and figuring it out alone. The whole crew has a stake in each other getting better.

Honest warning

This role isn't for you if ...

You want top dollar before you’ve proven you’re worth it, we pay people what they’re worth and we’re not afraid to hold that bar.

You need someone managing you at every step. We develop people, we mentor actively but we don’t babysit.

You think “close enough” is good enough. The finish, the detail, the standard always matters on every job, not just the ones anyone’s watching.

You’re looking for a clock-in clock-out PAYE arrangement with no skin in the game. This is a contracting role for people who back themselves.

If none of those apply — and this is already how you show up to work — you’ll fit right in. Read on.

No surprises!

What does the foreman pathway look like?

There’s no fixed timeline — it depends on where you’re starting and how fast you develop. What we can say: there is a genuine pathway. It involves taking on more responsibility site by site, learning the pre-construction side (reading plans, client comms, costing), and being mentored directly by our directors. We’re not interested in stringing people along.

What kind of work will I be doing?

It varies, which is part of what makes it interesting. We work across residential reclads, renovations, and new builds in Wellington. The mix depends on what’s in the pipeline. We generally try to match work to strengths where we can, but we also value builders who can move across different work types. If you have a strong speciality — framing, finishing, roofing, weathertightness — tell us in your application.

What areas of Wellington do you work in?

Primarily within Wellington City and the wider Wellington region. We’ll give you a straight answer on travel expectations for any role we offer — no one should be surprised by a long commute on day one.

How does getting paid work?

If you contract to us, you invoice weekly and we pay weekly — no 20-day waits. We strongly recommend HNRY (~$1.50 per $100 earned) which handles your GST returns, income tax, ACC, and invoicing automatically. Most contractors on our crew spend under an hour a month on admin. If you come on wages (PAYE), you’re paid fortnightly with holiday pay, sick leave, and KiwiSaver handled. Either way, we discuss the rate openly before you start — no surprises.

What tools do I need, what do you provide?

We expect tradespeople to bring their own hand tools and personal power tools. We have site gear — scaffolding, larger power equipment, heavy kit — and we have trade accounts you can access. If you’re contracting, your tools are claimable as a business expense, which takes the sting out of the cost.

common Questions

What happens when it rains or a site shuts down?

Because our pipeline runs multiple projects at once, we work hard to keep people moving — shifting crew to weatherproof work, interior work, or prep tasks rather than sending everyone home. We won’t pretend bad weather never costs time, but our job is to minimise lost days through good sequencing. We’ll be straight with you about how we handle it.

How are the sites set up? Am I on my own?

You’re not on your own. Kim is our Project Ops Lead — she’s across scheduling, site logistics, and making sure the right things are in the right place. Our directors are reachable and stay close to site. We run daily site comms and planning systems so problems get caught early, not when they’ve already cost time and money. If something goes sideways, there’s a structure for dealing with it.

What happens after I apply?

Denym watches every video personally — typically within 5 days. If you’re shortlisted, you’ll be invited to meet the crew on site (sometimes with a half-day trial). Decisions are made by day 14. Everyone who applies hears back — even if it’s not a yes. We don’t ghost people.

How the application works

Complete
this Form

Five parts, honest answers, about 10 minutes. We read everything that gets through.

Everyone who applies hears back — even if it’s not a yes. Decisions are made within 14 days of application. We don’t ghost people.

The process

01

02

Record your Video

Submit four questions answered on camera — 5 to 10 minutes. Required to complete your application. Use Loom (free), YouTube unlisted, or Google Drive.

We will Review

Denym watches every video personally. Strong matches hear back within 5 days — no algorithmic screening.

Meet our Crew

Come onto site and meet the people you’d be working with. See how we operate, who we are, whether it feels right. Sometimes there’s a half-day trial — we’ll let you know in advance. This goes both ways.