Compare Removal Services in New Zealand at Canstar Blue. New Zealand Movers, Crown Relocations, Conroy Removals and Allied were compared on Overall Satisfaction, Care Taken By Staff, Customer Service, Price, Service Availability and Value for Money.
See our Ratings Methodology.
New Zealand Movers is the No.1 removal service as rated by Kiwi consumers.
Our review compares removal services on customer satisfaction, so you can discover what other Kiwis think about our compared companies before you employ one to help you move. Think of it like asking hundreds of your closest friends and family which removal service they think is best!
Canstar Blue surveyed 365 Kiwis who had used a removal service in the past three years and asked for their feedback on the company they used.
Respondents rate their satisfaction with their removal services from zero to ten, where zero is extremely dissatisfied and ten is extremely satisfied. Brand satisfaction was rated by respondents on the following criteria:
The winning brand is the one that receives the highest Overall Satisfaction rating once all the scores from the Overall Satisfaction criteria are combined and averaged.
Brands must have received at least 30 responses to be included, so not all brands available in the market have been compared in this survey. The brands rated in this survey are listed below in order of best overall satisfaction.
Find more information on our Most Satisfied Customer methodology.
The inaugural winner of our Most Satisfied Customers | Removal Services Award, back in 2021, this year New Zealand Movers is back on top of our award table.
And it’s a well-deserved win, as New Zealand Movers achieves a top 5-Star rating across every one of our award categories, including Overall Satisfaction, Customer Service and Value for Money.
Notably, New Zealand Movers is the only removal company on our table to achieve any 5-Star ratings.
New Zealand Movers has been helping Kiwis move home for over 40 years, and is Kiwi owned and operated. It has regional offices in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin, and works with a global network of partners in over 60 countries. In addition, the removalist also has 12 secure storage facilities, most of which are customs bonded and licensed transitional facilities.
New Zealand Movers’ services include:
For more details, check out the New Zealand Movers website.
Crown has an international reputation as a quality removal company, which is backed up here in NZ by Crown’s great set of ratings from Kiwis. Across every measure of satisfaction, Crown earns a great 4-Star rating from its very happy customers.
Crown Relocations is a member of the Crown Worldwide Group, a company that spans a global network of over 50 countries. Crown has office and warehouse facilities located in Auckland, Christchurch, Cromwell, Dunedin, Hamilton, Hawkes Bay, Nelson, Palmerston North, Queenstown, Tauranga, Wellington and Whangarei. From these locations it can service every part of the country.
Crown Relocations’ services include:
For more details, check out the Crown website.
Placing third on our awards table, Conroy Removals earns predominantly 3-Star ratings. However, 3 Stars is by no means a measure of dissatisfaction. Rather it indicates that Conroy’s customers are happy with the levels of Overall Satisfaction, Customer Service and Value for Money they receive. Conroy earns its highest ratings, 4 Stars, for Relative Price and Availability of Service.
Founded in Napier in 1972, Conroy has over 50 years of experience helping Kiwis move home. The removal firm has six offices around the country, in Auckland, Christchurch, Napier, Nelson, Tauranga and Wellington.
Conroy’s services include:
For more details, check out the Conroy website.
Allied rounds out Canstar Blue’s 2024 Removal Services Award ratings and earns a clean sweep of 3-Stars across all categories. As mentioned above, 3-Stars is still a strong indication of customer approval.
Allied is an international brand and one of New Zealand’s largest removal companies. It has 10 locations across the country and hundreds of offices around the globe. Allied’s services cover residential and business customers and include:
For more details, check out the Allied website.
Not all removal service firms in the market qualify for our ratings (based on minimum survey sample size), but that doesn’t mean they’re not worth considering. Here are more popular removalist firms to check out before making a decision:
NZ Van LinesFor over 35 years, New Zealand Van Lines has been the the official transport company of the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and the Royal New Zealand Ballet. It’s also the preferred removal company of many government departments. 100% Kiwi owned and operated, it has branches and warehouse facilities in: Auckland, Blenheim, Christchurch, Dunedin, Hamilton, Invercargill, Nelson, New Plymouth, Palmerston North, Central Otago, Tauranga, Wellington and Whangarei.
New Zealand Van Lines’s services include:
The Moving CompanyThe Moving Company is a Kiwi company that was founded in Nelson in 1987. It has offices in Christchurch, Wellington, Tauranga, Hamilton and Auckland and provides removal and storage services across Aotearoa and to over 140 countries worldwide.
The Moving Company’s services include:
World Moving & StorageWorld Moving & Storage was established 20 years ago, and has branches in Auckland, Christchurch and Wellington. As the company’s name suggests, it offers a range of moving and storage services, including:
Moving home is never easy. Indeed, over half the people in our awards survey (56%) say they find the whole process very stressful.
And that’s why using a great removalist can help. A full door-to-door service – one that includes packing and unpacking, as well as looking after pets, insurance and even cleaning – can take all the worry out of a relocation.
Therefore, it’s not surprising that Customer Service and Care Taken by Staff rate as highly as Value for Money when Kiwi consumers rate their removalist experiences.
Overall, 34% of those in our survey cite Customer Service as their No.1 concern when rating their removalist, and 30% rank Care Taken by Staff as their top concern, while 32% cite Value for Money.
When it comes to moving our cherished possessions, it’s clear we’re happy to pay for service excellence.
Overall, here’s what the consumers in our survey say are their most important considerations when rating their choice of removal service:
When moving, you have two choices: moving your belongings yourself (perhaps with the help of friends or family), or finding a professional removalist.
If you need to hire a removal firm, Canstar Blue’s 2024 Most Satisfied Customers | Removal Services Award is a great place to start your search for a removal company with great consumer reviews.
Are you packing your household items yourself? If so, you’ll need a supply of good-quality moving boxes and strong packing tape. Many removalists and storage facilities sell boxes and packaging materials, or you could ask for old cardboard boxes at your local supermarket.
When you begin to pack, you may rediscover belongings you have long forgotten about. Think about whether you need to organise a skip bin to dispose of rubbish, arrange a garage sale for any sellable (but unwanted) items, or donate any unwanted items to charity.
When packing, make sure you use adequate padding for your fragile items. And double-check the weight limits of the boxes you are using. For example, don’t pack a large box full of books, as it will become too heavy to lift.
Also, clearly marking which room a box is intended for can speed up the unpacking process at the other end.
Alternatively, many quality removal companies, such as those in our award ratings, offer packing/unpacking services.
Double-check if you have any outstanding rates or utility bills. If possible, it’s a good idea to pay them off before you move, and let your provider know you are moving. This will reduce the risk of losing paperwork or accidentally accruing late fees.
When you know your move-out date, you can arrange for your utilities to be disconnected at the house you are moving out of, and connected ready for your arrival at your new house. These include:
Sometimes, utility providers will require access to your new house, which may mean a delay in getting connected, so it could be worth ensuring you have a contingency plan in place. There’s plenty of advice on Canstar Blue on choosing the best electricity and broadband providers.
When it comes to cleaning a rental property, you have two choices:
Many cleaners specialise in helping people who are moving house. And for renters, they often guarantee their work to a standard that warrants full bond repayment. Of course, hiring a pro-cleaner is more expensive than the DIY option. Again, many removal companies also offer cleaning services to help smooth your move.
Whether you are home owner or renting, it’s always a good idea to organise insurance to protect your belongings in your new home.
Check with your current insurance provider to see whether your possessions are already covered when in transit.
If not, it’s advisable to organise cover. Your current insurer will be able to help with that one. Alternatively, many removal companies offer their own insurance cover packages.
Transit insurance (see below) can help provide a level of financial cover for your possessions if they are damaged and/or lost while they are in transit to your new home.
Ensure you advise all your service providers of your new address, so your contact details are up to date. These include:
Even if you are sure you have proactively updated your address with all your providers, it’s surprising how much mail could still be sent to you at your previous home. By redirecting your mail for three months, you can see if there are any companies or friends and family who missed the memo. You can apply to redirect your mail on the New Zealand Post website.
Do you have a newspaper delivered? How about groceries? Ensure you cancel any regular deliveries. Also remember to cancel any other household services you may use, such as a gardener or widow cleaner.
Arriving at your new house or apartment after a move only to discover your furniture has been broken, your glassware has been chipped, or some of your clothes have gone missing can be a disappointing and costly experience.
If you have an existing contents insurance policy, it may include cover to protect your belongings while in transit. But, if not, there are other insurance options you can consider.
Transit insurance can help provide a level of financial cover for your possessions if they are damaged and/or lost while they are in transit to your new home.
Transit insurance can be purchased as a standalone product from a specialist insurance provider, removalist or freight/shipping company. Some transit insurance policies may include similar coverage to a contents insurance or removalist insurance policy. However these are different types of insurance and should not be confused with each other.
The cover provided by transit insurance differs depending on the policy. It may cover:
The policy may be for international or domestic moves, based on your requirements.
There are several options available for insuring your belongings during a move, including:
Canstar Research found contents insurance policies differ when it comes to cover for your belongings in transit. Some insurers do provide a level of cover for your contents if damage or loss is caused by events such as fire, flood, theft or a road accident while a vehicle is carrying your items to your new home.
However, exclusions and conditions can apply to this type of cover. Some policies cover the items in transit, but not when they are being loaded and unloaded from the vehicle.
Other policies may not provide cover if you fail to let your provider know about your moving plans. Or if you use a removalist company that is not deemed professional.
There may also be an exemption if your belongings are stored in a facility. Some insurers may restrict transit coverage within its contents insurance policy altogether. Or will only provide this additional cover if you pay an extra premium.
As policies differ, it’s recommended to read the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) of your policy, or to contact your insurer directly to ask about your cover.
View Outstanding Value Home & Contents Insurance Awards
If your current contents policy does not provide cover for your belongings while they are being moved, check to see if insurance is available from your removalist. Removal companies are not legally required to have insurance to cover your belongings. If you decide to hire a removalist, research your options carefully and ask family and friends for recommendations.
If you’re not satisfied with the insurance cover on offer from your contents insurance provider. Or that offered by your removalist. There are some specialised moving and storage providers that offer transit/moving insurance.
The price of these policies will depend on a range of factors, including the value you place on your belongings and what circumstances you want covered. Before buying one of these policies, it’s important to read the fine print. Ideally contact the provider directly to get a full understanding of the cover’s inclusions and exclusions.
Some items are excluded from insurance cover while they are in transit. However the specific item exclusions will vary depending on your chosen insurance policy and policy provider.
Some contents insurance providers specify they will not cover for loss or damage in transit: cash, smart cards, phone cards, or documents able to be cashed or traded.
They will also not cover items that are excluded from cover under a contents policy. These items may include electricals (phones, laptops), building materials, business or trade stock, pets or animals, plants, trees and shrubs, chemicals, pesticides and firearms.
Some standalone transit or moving insurance providers also exclude particular items from cover or restrict the amount of cover on offer. For example, the PDS of one provider researched by Canstar specified it would not cover living plants, pets, cash, banknotes or jewellery. Another said it would not cover antiques, works of art, money, medals or jewellery unless they were specifically declared.
If you’re looking to transport your pet to your new home, and you have a pet insurance policy, check whether that policy covers your pet for injury while travelling to your new address.
If you choose to purchase transit insurance through your removalist or as a standalone product, the costs for cover will differ depending on a number of factors. These include:
Full transit insurance may cover for loss or damage to insured goods under all circumstances. Restricted cover may only insure items for loss or damage resulting from nominated events such as fire, flood or an accident on the road. Typically, full insurance cover costs more than restricted cover.
You may be able to choose between covering items for their full replacement cost, or current market value. The market value option typically covers the replacement cost of items less a reasonable allowance for age, condition, and depreciation. Market value often carries a cheaper premium.
If you are moving fragile, breakable or high-value items (e.g. a piano or artwork), you may have to pay a higher premium.
Typically, those moving a greater distance can expect to pay higher premiums compared to those moving within the same city.
Some types of transport (such as via road) may carry higher risks than others (such as via sea or air), and may carry a higher premium as a result.
The excess is the amount you need to pay the insurer when making a claim on your insurance. You may be able to adjust the excess amount when taking out your policy. Typically, the higher the excess chosen the lower your premiums. However, you will then need to pay more if you have to claim on your policy.
If you are relocating abroad or moving back to NZ from overseas, there may be transit insurance options available through your chosen shipping, freight or cargo company. Or from an insurance company that specialises in international transit cover. You can research your transit insurance options online, or talk to an insurance broker about the best policy to meet your needs and budget.
If you have an existing home and contents insurance policy, you’ll need to contact your insurer to notify them you are moving. Discuss changes that need to be made to your insurance policy for your new home. For example, do you need to adjust the amount your property is insured for, and have purchased new furniture?
If you don’t have home and contents insurance or are looking to review your cover, consider comparing your options and requesting quotes from a couple of providers.
Keep in mind that the cheapest policy may not always provide the cover you require. It’s a good idea to read the PDS of any product before making a decision.
This report was written by Canstar’s Editor, Bruce Pitchers. Bruce has three decades’ experience as a journalist and has worked for major media companies in the UK and Australasia, including ACP, Bauer Media Group, Fairfax, Pacific Magazines, News Corp and TVNZ. Prior to Canstar, he worked as a freelancer, including for The Australian Financial Review, the NZ Financial Markets Authority, and for real estate companies on both sides of the Tasman.
Find moving home very stressful: 56%
Have learned the value of paying for removalists: 38%
Have had possessions lost or broken during a move: 25%
Have used and recommend a packing service: 24%
Have purchased insurance to cover a home move: 19%
Canstar Blue surveyed 5127 New Zealand consumers across a range of categories to measure and track customer satisfaction, via ISO 26362 accredited research panels managed by Qualtrics. The outcomes reported are the results from customers who had used the services of a removalist over the past three years. In this case, 365 New Zealanders. Brands must have received at least 30 responses to be included. Results are comparative and it should be noted that brands receiving three stars have still achieved a satisfaction measure of at least six out of 10. Not all brands available in the market have been compared in this survey. The ratings table is first sorted by star ratings and then by mean overall satisfaction. A rated brand may receive a ‘N/A’ (Not Applicable) rating if it does not receive the minimum number of responses for that criterion.
The past winners from Canstar Blue’s removal service ratings:
Best-Rated Removal Services - May 6th
How to buy in a retirement village
In New Zealand there are four common legal titles used when buying into a retirement village:
1. Licence to occupy
A license to occupy (LTO) is a legal paper that grants …
How to choose the right retirement village
1. Assess your needs and preferences
Start by evaluating your current and future needs. Consider factors such as location, lifestyle preferences, level of care required, recreational activities, healthcare facilities, and …
Why do I need to clean my water bottle/travel mug?
Cleaning your water bottle or travel mug regularly is essential for several reasons:
Hygiene: bacteria, mould, and other microorganisms can accumulate in your water bottle or …
– Read more
If you vacuum sucks at sucking, it could just need a deep clean. Keeping your vacuum cleaner in top shape ensures it provides optimal performance, lasts longer, and remains hygienic. This comprehensive guide caters to …
– Read more
Cleaning steps
Before you start cleaning, ensure that the BBQ is turned off and has cooled down completely. Also, make sure you disconnect the propane tank or natural gas line if you have a gas grill.
1. …