Wellington Wind Zones and Your Roof

Wellington wind zones and your roof

NZS 3604 wind zones run from Low to Extra High; Very High is a 50 m/s design wind speed and Extra High 55 m/s, and sites above that need specific engineering design ¹. Many Wellington hill sites sit in the upper zones, which sets the roof's fixing pattern ³. The zone is set site by site ².

NZS 3604 rates sites from Low (32 m/s) to Extra High (55 m/s). Anything above that needs specific engineering design ¹. Plenty of Wellington sites sit in the top zones, and that decides how the roof gets fixed down.

Updated 26 October 2026 · Reviewed against MBIE, BRANZ Level, NZ Metal Roofing Manufacturers

The zones

Zone	Design wind speed
Low	32 m/s
Medium	37 m/s
High	44 m/s
Very High	50 m/s
Extra High	55 m/s

Source: ¹. See also ².

What changes on the roof

Manufacturers publish fixing patterns for each wind zone ³. Under E2/AS1, masonry tile roofs in Very High and Extra High zones need underlay whatever the pitch, among other detailing changes.

How your zone is set

It comes down to wind region, terrain, topography and shelter ². Your quote should name the zone and the fixing pattern.

Local pages: Wellington City, Porirua.

Want a number for your place? Ask me for a free, itemised quote or have a go on the cost estimator.

Frequently asked questions

Is all of Wellington Extra High?

No. Zones are worked out site by site, and terrain and shelter decide them ².

Sources

MBIE — E2 External Moisture Acceptable Solution, amendment 5 (wind zone speeds) (accessed 26 Oct 2026)
BRANZ Level — Analysing wind impact on a building site (accessed 26 Oct 2026)
NZ Metal Roofing Manufacturers — Code of Practice: fastening pattern tables (NZS 3604) (accessed 26 Oct 2026)

Prices are published planning ranges, not quotes. See our editorial policy.

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