How We Can Help
Cook Costello brings civil, structural and geotechnical engineering together with in-house surveying and geophysics.
We support land development, building and infrastructure projects, as well as evidence-based property damage assessments. With one connected team, clients get coordinated advice, fewer handovers between disciplines and direct access to the engineers doing the work.
FIND THE RIGHT SERVICE
Not sure which service you need? Start with what you are trying to do.
It's not essential to know which discipline to contact. Check below to find the situation closest to yours, or tell us what you are trying to achieve and we will guide you to the right team.
Civil engineering
Developing a site or dealing with water and infrastructure?
Civil engineering is involved when:
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A subdivision needs roads, access, drainage or utilities designed and consented.
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Flooding, stormwater or wastewater issues are affecting what can be built.
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Earthworks and site grading are needed to prepare the land for development.
Structural engineering
Building, altering or checking the safety of a structure?
Talk to our structural team when:
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Council requires structural design, calculations or a producer statement.
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You are planning a new building, renovation, retaining wall or change of use.
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Cracking or damage has appeared and you need to understand whether the structure is safe.
Geotechnical engineering
Need to understand whether the ground can support your project?
Geotechnical input is required when:
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You have been asked for a ground investigation or geotechnical report.
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The site has soft soils, fill, groundwater, liquefaction risk or uncertain ground conditions.
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Slopes, foundations or retaining structures need further assessment.
Geophysics
Trying to find out what is underground without excavating across the site?
Geophysics can help identify:
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Buried services, foundations, voids and other hidden features.
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Changes in subsurface conditions across large or difficult areas.
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Cavities, instability, seismic conditions and ground stiffness.
Land development
Have land to develop but unsure where to begin or whether the project stacks up?
Our land development team can:
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Assess feasibility before major commitments are made.
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Coordinate planning, engineering and surveying through consent and construction.
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Help untangle stalled or complex developments and move them towards titles.
Property damage assessment
Has a building or property been damaged and you need clear, independent advice?
We assess:
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Damage caused by floods, storms, landslips, earthquakes and other events.
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Insurance claims that require engineering evidence or a second opinion.
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The cause and extent of damage, along with the repairs or remediation required.
Our Services
Restoration Projects
Civil Engineering
Turning raw land into a buildable, consentable site requires early decisions about earthworks, access, drainage and infrastructure. Our civil engineers support projects from feasibility through design, construction monitoring and certification, providing realistic solutions that respond to the site, council requirements and the wider development programme.
Structural Engineering
Whether you are building a home, retaining wall or large commercial structure, the design needs to be safe, compliant and constructible. Our structural engineers design and assess new and existing structures that are shaped around the site, the brief and the way the project will actually be built.
Geotechnical Engineering
Before foundations or earthworks are designed, you need to understand what the ground can support. Our geotechnical team investigates ground conditions, assesses hazards such as slope instability and liquefaction, and provides practical foundation, retaining and earthworks advice based on site-specific evidence rather than broad assumptions.
Land Surveying
Every project starts with reliable information about the site. Our surveyors provide boundary definition, topographic surveys, construction set-out and subdivision surveying for residential, commercial and land development projects. Accurate survey data keeps design, consenting and construction aligned and reduces the risk of costly site and set-out errors.
Geophysics
Geophysics helps reveal what cannot be seen from the surface. Our in-house team uses non-intrusive methods to map subsurface conditions, locate voids and buried features, and measure ground stiffness for seismic and foundation assessment. Integrated with our engineering services, these insights help target investigation and reduce uncertainty and risk early.
Land Development
Taking land from initial concept through to titles requires multiple disciplines to stay coordinated. Cook Costello brings civil and geotechnical engineering, surveying and geophysics together in one team, guiding residential, commercial and industrial developments through feasibility, consenting, design and construction with fewer handovers.
Property Damage Assessment
When property is damaged by a storm, flood, landslip or earthquake, clear evidence matters. Our engineers investigate the likely cause and extent of damage, document their findings and provide appropriate repair or remediation advice for homeowners, insurers, councils and other decision-makers. Our reports are independent, traceable and prepared to withstand review.
Where we work across New Zealand
Since our establishment in 1976, Cook Costello has delivered engineering, surveying and geophysics services in cities, regional centres and smaller communities across the country. Ground conditions, natural hazards, infrastructure constraints and council requirements vary considerably from one region to another, so local and regional experience matters.
Whangārei
Our Whangārei team works across Northland, from the Far North down to Kaipara.
This includes Whangārei, Ruakākā, Waipū, Mangawhai, Dargaville, Kaikohe, Kerikeri and Kaitāia.
Wellington
Our Wellington team works across the lower and central North Island, from Kāpiti and the Hutt Valley through to Manawatū, Hawke's Bay and Taranaki.
We have experience in Wellington, Lower Hutt, Upper Hutt, Porirua, Kāpiti Coast, Palmerston North, Napier and New Plymouth.
Auckland
Our Auckland team works across Auckland and the upper North Island, including Waikato, the Bay of Plenty and the East Coast.
We regularly work in Auckland, Pukekohe, Waiuku, Hamilton, Tauranga, Rotorua, Taupō and Gisborne.
Christchurch
Our Christchurch team works across Canterbury, including Selwyn, Waimakariri and Hurunui, and south to Timaru.
We support projects in Christchurch, Rolleston, Kaiapoi, Darfield, Oxford, Amberley, Ashburton and Timaru.
We have also worked in Kaikōura, Nelson, Blenheim, Tekapo, Wānaka, Queenstown, Dunedin and Invercargill, and we take on projects outside these areas.
Get one team across your whole project
Whatever stage you're at, start with a conversation. We'll tell you what's needed and what it involves.
Give us a call or fill in the form and we'll be in touch within one business day.