Chambers Consultants provides CPEng-led geotechnical engineering on Auckland’s North Shore from our office at 61 Constellation Drive. We prepare geotechnical reports for building consent, assess slope stability and slips, and design foundations and retaining walls for homes, subdivisions and commercial projects from Devonport to the Hibiscus Coast. Every report is prepared and signed by a Chartered Professional Engineer who has walked your site.
Request a North Shore geotechnical quote or call 09 278 1072.
Why North Shore sites need a geotechnical engineer
Most of the North Shore is underlain by Waitematā Group sandstones and siltstones of the East Coast Bays Formation. Weathered near the surface, these rocks form clayey residual soils that are often expansive and can be weak where they have been softened by groundwater. On sloping sections and along the coastal cliffs of the East Coast Bays, that combination is behind many of the shallow slips and deeper-seated landslides that affect North Shore properties after prolonged rain.
Other ground conditions we commonly meet on the Shore include:
- Uncontrolled fill on older subdivisions and infilled gullies, which is not “good ground” under NZS 3604 and usually needs piles or removal.
- Soft estuarine and alluvial soils around the upper harbour, creek margins and low-lying areas such as parts of Hobsonville and around Lucas Creek.
- Coastal cliff and erosion hazards on clifftop sections from Takapuna to Long Bay, where setbacks and slope stability govern where and how you can build.
See Auckland’s soils explained for more on these units.
Our North Shore geotechnical services
- Geotechnical reports for building consent — good ground assessment, foundation recommendations and producer statements accepted by Auckland Council.
- Slope stability and landslide assessment — for sloping and clifftop sections, and after a slip.
- Site investigation and ground investigation — hand augers, Scala penetrometer, shear vane, CPT and machine boreholes.
- Foundation design and retaining wall and slip remediation design.
- Subdivision geotechnical reports for infill and greenfield lots.
- Soakage testing for stormwater disposal to ground.
Areas we cover on the North Shore
Takapuna, Milford, Devonport, Belmont, Bayswater, Northcote, Birkenhead, Beach Haven, Glenfield, Hillcrest, Forrest Hill, Sunnynook, Castor Bay, Campbells Bay, Mairangi Bay, Murrays Bay, Rothesay Bay, Browns Bay, Torbay, Long Bay, Rosedale, Albany, Greenhithe, Hobsonville and the Hibiscus Coast including Silverdale, Whangaparāoa and Ōrewa.
How it works
- Desk study — Auckland Council GeoMaps, nearby geotechnical reports, geological maps and your plans.
- Fixed-fee proposal — scope, test positions, fee and timeframe in writing.
- Fieldwork — usually a single visit for a standard residential section.
- Report — ground model, stability assessment where needed, and foundation and earthworks recommendations, signed by a CPEng geotechnical engineer.
- Consent and construction support — responses to council requests for information and foundation inspections.
See what drives the cost of a geotechnical report.
What Auckland clients say
“Sam and the team at Chambers Consultants are absolute professionals and provide excellent service and communication. They helped us recently with a complex pre purchase inspection and saved us from making a big mistake!”
Jeremy M., Google review
“The team was professional, reliable, and delivered high-quality results on time. Very responsive and easy to work with—I highly recommend them for any geotechnical needs.”
Hossein G., Google review
“Good reliable Consultant Engineers, technically sound.”
Shahid A., Google review
Read all reviews on Google · Geotechnical engineers in Auckland · What a geotechnical report costs
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a geotechnical report to build on the North Shore?
Usually, yes. Auckland Council generally requires one where the site is sloping, contains fill, has expansive or soft soils, sits near a cliff or in a mapped hazard area, or cannot otherwise be shown to be good ground under NZS 3604.
My section is on a slope above the beach. What should I expect?
A slope stability assessment in addition to the standard investigation, typically with deeper testing and a cross-section of the slope. The results set building setbacks and foundation types, and may require retaining or drainage works.
Can you help after a slip on my property?
Yes. We assess slips on North Shore properties, advise on immediate safety and design permanent remediation such as retaining walls, drainage and regrading.
Where is your North Shore office?
61 Constellation Drive, North Shore, Auckland. Our head office is at 39 East Tamaki Road, Papatoetoe.
Talk to a North Shore geotechnical engineer: call 09 278 1072, email info@chambersconsultants.co.nz or send us your project details.