A Practical Guide to Project Delivery Methods and Associated Contracts

The contract you select shapes the commercial relationship, risk profile, and delivery approach for the entire project. Get it wrong, and even straightforward projects can spiral into disputes and delay. Get it right, and you know exactly what you are responsible for, how to price and claim correctly, and how to protect yourself if something goes wrong.

Procurement defines how a project is delivered — who designs, who builds, who carries the risk, and how information flows. The four main pathways in New Zealand construction are: Traditional (Design-Bid-Build), where the client engages designers first then tenders the fully designed project to a contractor; Design and Build, where the contractor takes responsibility for both design and construction; Minor Works or Simplified Contracts for small-scale or low-risk projects; and Alliance or Collaborative models including Early Contractor Involvement for complex projects where shared risk and transparency are priorities.

Each NZS standard form aligns with a different pathway. NZS 3910, NZS 3916, NZS 3902 or SA 2017 — which NZ construction contract is right for your project? This guide compares all four by project type, risk profile and delivery method.