The verdict in three sentences
For an architecture firm in Wellington doing workplace and commercial fit-outs for corporate clients, a redesign rarely fails at launch: it fails six months later, when nobody publishes new projects any more. A local agency prices a redesign at NZD 12,000 to 30,000 as a 2026 ballpark (about USD 7,080 to 17,700), while the Kolonell fixed grid is USD 2,900 (Starter), USD 4,900 (Growth) and USD 8,900 (Premium). The right quote includes written governance: who adds a project, who approves client consent, and a simple template you can fill in under an hour.
Why do practice portfolios go stale so fast?
In Wellington, commissions mix public sector clients, seismic strengthening of existing buildings and residential projects. For a fit-out practice, clients are often large organisations that strictly control what can be shown of their premises. The usual result: the site shows projects from three years ago, because there is no approval process.
The signals that a redesign is due:
- publishing a project goes through an external developer, so nobody does it;
- nobody knows which clients gave written consent, or for what (name, photos, plans);
- some photos show sensitive areas of a client's premises (secure reception, plant rooms);
- service pages talk about seismic strengthening as if giving advice, when these processes should stay described in general terms;
- some profiles say "architect" when the person is not on the register: the title registered architect is protected under the Registered Architects Act 2005 and the register is kept by the NZRAB.
What budget, and what does it cover for governance?
2026 ballpark, based on typical agency quotes and public agency rate pages. Approximate conversion: NZD 1 ≈ USD 0.59.
| Option | Local quote (NZD) | Approx. equivalent (USD) | Independence after handover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Freelancer | NZD 4,000 to 9,000 | USD 2,360 to 5,310 | Varies, often dependent on the freelancer |
| Small Wellington agency | NZD 12,000 to 30,000 | USD 7,080 to 17,700 | Short training, updates billed |
| Established agency | NZD 35,000 to 80,000 | USD 20,650 to 47,200 | Governance workshops, editorial guide |
| Kolonell Starter | fixed price | USD 2,900 | Simple editable pages |
| Kolonell Growth | fixed price | USD 4,900 | Project template, editing roles, onboarding |
| Kolonell Premium | fixed price | USD 8,900 | Larger volume, the multilingual tier, languages set in the quote |
Every tier includes a project manager reachable in your time zone, native English copywriting, delivery in 3 to 4 weeks once content is ready and 3 months of support. Full details are on the international offer page. These stay on quote: project extranet, BIM viewer, client portal, tender document room, CRM integration, SEO work beyond the migration. These tools are linked or embedded, never rebuilt inside a fixed-grid site.
Who does what once the site is live?
Governance fits on one page. Here is a model to adapt:
| Task | Owner | Approves | Frequency or target time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Write a project entry | Marketing coordinator | Project director | 45 min per project |
| Get the client's written consent | Project director | Principal | Before any publication |
| Check photos (sensitive areas, visible people) | Marketing coordinator | Project director | 10 min per gallery |
| Publish or unpublish | Marketing coordinator | Principal | Within 48 hours if consent is withdrawn |
| Update team and open roles | HR lead | Principal | Every quarter |
| Review awards and certifications shown | Principal | Principal | Every six months |
The project template stays deliberately short: displayed name (with consent), project type, location area, the practice's role, 6 to 12 photos with credits, 150 to 300 words of text, a confidentiality note if the client requires it. The consent register records for each project: client contact, date, what is allowed (name, photos, plans), any end date.
Risks of the redesign itself
Typical calendar: URL inventory and Search Console export (3 days), templates and governance (1 week), build and image conversion to WebP or AVIF with lazy loading (1 to 2 weeks), compliance review and cutover (3 to 5 days).
- Search rankings: 301 redirects for 100% of old URLs, then Search Console monitoring for 6 weeks.
- Project migration: a project with no consent on file is not migrated, it waits for approval.
- Integrations: form limited to name, contact, project type, location area and rough budget; client briefs and plans through a separate secure channel, on quote.
- Downtime: midweek DNS switch, email tested on the day.
- Compliance: the Privacy Act 2020 covers data collected by the form; the Fair Trading Act prohibits misleading claims. This is not legal advice.
Questions to ask your provider: how many distinct editing roles does the site support? How long does it take to unpublish a project? Is the training recorded for new starters?
A Wellington agency remains the better choice if your clients require an on-site supplier for security reasons, or if governance has to connect to an existing intranet or document management system.
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Mini case study
Illustrative example: Kestrel Marsh Studio, a 16-person Wellington practice specialising in workplace and commercial fit-outs for corporate clients.
Before the redesign, every published project goes through an external developer: 3 hours at NZD 120 an hour (market assumption), so NZD 360 per project. With 14 projects a year, that is NZD 5,040, about USD 2,970 a year, and most projects never get published.
- Kolonell Growth: USD 4,900, project template and editing roles included.
- After handover, the marketing coordinator publishes an entry in about 45 minutes, approved by the project director.
- The consent register is filled in for the 22 migrated projects before cutover.
The avoided developer fees are only an estimate: the real gain is a portfolio that stays current.
FAQ
How many people should be able to publish?
Usually 2: a writer and an approver. Beyond 4 editors, publishing errors go up with no gain in pace.
What if a client withdraws consent?
The project is unpublished within 48 hours and its URL redirects to the projects page for the same type. The consent register keeps the withdrawal date.
Can we talk about seismic strengthening on the site?
Yes, in general terms: your role and the usual steps, with no technical advice or timeline promise. A text of 200 to 400 words is often enough.
How long does the redesign take?
3 to 4 weeks with Kolonell once content is ready. Allow 1 more week on the practice's side to rebuild the consent register.
Is maintenance included after the 3 months?
The first 3 months of support are included. Kolonell maintenance beyond that is on quote.
Send the list of projects you can publish to get a free quote.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your current URLs, how many projects to migrate and who will publish going forward: we will price Growth or Premium with a ready-to-use governance model. See the international offer or request a free quote: detailed reply within 48 hours.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
