The verdict in three sentences
In Wellington, a local agency is the right choice for a law firm that wants in-person sessions near Lambton Quay, professional photography and bilingual English and te reo Māori content handled by one team; a remote studio wins when the firm wants a precise site, fast, at a known price. As a 2026 ballpark, Wellington agencies quote USD 5 500 to 21 000 for a firm site, and Kolonell's fixed grid is USD 2 900, 4 900 or 8 900, delivered in 3 to 4 weeks with native English copy. Before comparing quotes, decide which of your clients matter most online: government counterparts, employers, individuals, or the diplomatic community.
Who is a Wellington firm website really talking to?
Wellington practices have an unusual mix. Many advise on public and administrative law, regulatory matters and employment disputes before the Employment Relations Authority and the Employment Court; others work on Treaty of Waitangi claims, Māori land and iwi governance; and the capital's embassies, NGOs and international organisations bring clients who expect content in other languages. A barrister sole needs a compact credibility site; a boutique of four to eight lawyers needs one page per practice area and qualified enquiries; a firm with diplomatic or francophone clients may need a full English and French site. Getting this right matters more than the agency's location.
How do local agency, freelancer and remote studio differ in practice?
| Criterion | Wellington agency | Freelancer | Kolonell (remote studio) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Time-zone overlap (NZST/NZDT) | Full | Full if local | Project manager reachable during your Wellington business hours |
| Meetings | In person on Lambton Quay or at their studio | Video or café meetings | Video only, no on-site meetings |
| Te reo Māori content | Sometimes via partner translators | Rare | Not included, use a qualified translator |
| English and French copy | English, French rarely | English | Native English included, French at Premium |
| Price for a firm site | USD 5 500 to 21 000 (2026 ballpark) | USD 2 400 to 7 000 | USD 2 900 / 4 900 / 8 900 |
| Domain and code | Check whether hosting is bundled and locked | Variable | Domain in the firm's name, confirm in the quote |
| Photo and video | Usually available | Rare | Not offered |
These ranges come from New Zealand studios' public price pages, minimum project sizes listed on Clutch.co, and freelance rates published on Upwork and local freelance platforms, converted from NZD at roughly 0.60.
Which Kolonell tier matches which Wellington practice?
| Practice profile | Suitable tier | Kolonell price | Local agency equivalent (2026 ballpark) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barrister sole, public or employment law | Starter: compact site, a few key pages | USD 2 900 | USD 4 000 to 7 000 |
| Boutique of 4 to 8 lawyers, 5 to 8 practice areas | Growth: one page per practice area, qualified forms | USD 4 900 | USD 8 000 to 14 000 |
| Firm with diplomatic or francophone clients | Premium: complete bilingual EN/FR site, richer structure | USD 8 900 | USD 14 000 to 21 000 plus translation |
| Client portal, document upload, case management integration | Custom application | Quoted on request | Quoted separately |
| Ongoing SEO | Not bundled | Quoted on request | Often a monthly retainer |
Every tier includes a project manager reachable in your time zone, native English copywriting, delivery in 3 to 4 weeks and 3 months of support after launch. Full details: the international website offer.
When does a Wellington agency make more sense?
- Your partners want to co-design the site in workshops and value seeing the team in person.
- You want bilingual English and te reo Māori navigation and content produced and checked by one supplier with cultural advisers.
- You need portraits and office photography organised as part of the project.
- You expect the agency to handle ongoing campaigns and events after launch.
Kolonell does not do on-site meetings, photo or video shoots, and does not write te reo Māori. In those cases the local premium is justified.
Which rules must the site respect?
New Zealand lawyers are bound by the Lawyers and Conveyancers Act 2006 and the Conduct and Client Care Rules 2008, overseen by the New Zealand Law Society: advertising must not be misleading or deceptive, and the Fair Trading Act 1986 covers misleading conduct generally. Avoid unverifiable claims about tribunal results and keep barrister and solicitor roles accurately described. The Privacy Act 2020 applies to all organisations whatever their size, with 13 Information Privacy Principles and mandatory notification of serious breaches to the Privacy Commissioner. For accessibility, WCAG 2.1 AA is a sensible target, and firms that work closely with the public sector often aim for WCAG 2.2 AA. This is not legal advice.
What should you ask a provider before signing?
Need a professional website?
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- Can you show a site where enquiries are routed by practice area and urgency?
- How will you handle a later te reo Māori version: structure ready now, translation added afterwards?
- Who holds the domain, hosting and admin access at launch?
- How many review rounds are included, and what is the turnaround?
- What is the payment schedule? Kolonell works by bank transfer, 50 % at kickoff and 50 % at delivery; SEO and maintenance after the 3 months are quoted through the free quote form.
Mini case study
Illustrative example. Aroha K., director of a five-lawyer public and employment law boutique on Lambton Quay, budgets USD 12 000 based on a local agency proposal. She chooses Kolonell Growth at USD 4 900, then spends USD 900 for a qualified translator to produce te reo Māori headings and a welcome page, and USD 1 000 for a local photographer. Total: 4 900 plus 900 plus 1 000, so USD 6 800, a saving of USD 5 200. At an average employment matter of USD 2 600 in fees, the saving equals two matters, and the firm keeps the difference for a later client portal quoted on request.
FAQ
Can a remote studio meet the expectations of a Wellington firm working with government clients?
Yes, if accessibility and plain language are in the brief from day one. Target WCAG 2.1 AA at minimum and plan 3 to 4 weeks for delivery.
Does Kolonell write in te reo Māori?
No, copy is native English at every tier and French at Premium (USD 8 900). A qualified translator can add te reo Māori content, often for USD 500 to 1 500 for key pages as a 2026 ballpark.
How does the time difference work in practice?
The project manager is reachable during your Wellington business hours. Feedback sent in the afternoon is usually actioned by the next morning, so a review round takes about 24 hours.
What is included after launch?
Three months of support at every tier. After that, maintenance is quoted on request.
Is a freelancer cheaper?
Sometimes, at USD 2 400 to 7 000, but copy is rarely included and continuity depends on one person. Compare on the same scope, including copywriting and 3 years of maintenance.
Let's scope your project. Describe your practice areas, clients and languages, and we will price a Starter, Growth or Premium site in USD, delivered in 3 to 4 weeks. Request your free quote or see the international offer.
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.
