Navigating the Wild West of Building in Tonga
Given the current living crisis, you might be wondering – what’s the next step? You’re not alone. I’ve had heaps of people with land in Tonga but living in New Zealand or Australia reaching out, curious about building and what they should know.
First off, let’s talk about shipping containers – they’ve gotten ridiculously pricey! When we started, the cost was less than half of what it is now. You might think you’re paying one amount when it leaves the port in Tonga, but surprise, surprise – it’s often more. It feels like the wild wild west – you never know what you’re going to get depending on what’s in your container and who’s working the port that day.
Building in Tonga is a whole different ball game compared to Western countries with their strict rules and regulations. The main thing to ensure is that the electrical work is done correctly and gets signed off.
Finding a reputable builder is another challenge. We got lucky with ours – the house is strong but not necessarily square. It’s made the finishing a bit tricky and almost comical. Builders there don’t adhere to the same standards as in NZ or OZ. If you want that level of precision, I’d suggest bringing your builder over. Finding a builder certified in NZ or OZ in Tonga? Almost impossible.
It’s also worth noting that not all builders have the necessary equipment. Most had a limited selection of tools, so we ended up shipping everything needed. This is great if you plan to do some work yourself.
I had to let go of my expectations and embrace a more open-minded approach. As long as the structure is stable and won’t collapse, how it’s built is okay. Planning is crucial – I can’t stress this enough. Use images and plenty of diagrams. A lot can get lost in translation.
One rookie mistake I made was not paying enough attention to power plugs. Think about where your furniture will go and plan your sockets and lights accordingly. I was so overwhelmed I just slapped them around without checking room measurements. It’s cost me – we had to move some things around because of my oversight.
Another important consideration is having a secure place on-site for tools and materials or having someone live on-site. We found that a lot of things went missing, which is a common occurrence.( A lot of things get borrowed and are never returned) Get a lockable container to keep your supplies safe.
We recycled a lot for our house, except for the concrete bricks – we wanted our home to last generations. Yes, it’s expensive and takes forever, especially with a big house like ours. If I were to do it again, I’d start with a smaller house. Some things you just can’t recycle, so plan for that. You’ll need to buy some items brand new. The Gib board is pricey and took us ages to get, as did solid beams for the structure. But we scored tiles at a fraction of the price – enough for the whole house. Trade Me and Facebook Marketplace are your friends.
We got into the habit of sitting on Trade Me and Marketplace each night looking for things we needed. Search terms like “Need gone ASAP,” “Moving house,” or on Trade Me, check the $1 reserves with the search on closing soon. This is how I got my $12, 6 burner stainless steel stove! The bargain of the century and my pride and joy!
And let’s not forget the importance of finding a good shipping company. We learned the hard way – find a big company that handles lots of containers. We had issues with two companies, and it was a costly mistake (check out my TikTok for the full story and which company it was).
One thing I’m proud of is that this house has taken us over 4 years to build, but we’ve paid for everything ourselves. We went slowly and paid cash for every little thing. If we didn’t have the money, we worked our butts off until we did.
Overall, building in Tonga requires patience, flexibility, and a good dose of persistence. It’s not always easy, but it’s incredibly rewarding. If you’re considering taking the leap, just make sure to plan meticulously, stay adaptable, and don’t be afraid to ask for help. Trust me, it’s worth it in the end.
