May 6, 2026
A guide for NZ businesses thinking about a new website.
If you've been Googling website redesign timelines, you've probably found answers ranging from "two weeks" to "six months", which isn't overly helpful. The truth is, it really depends. But that doesn't mean you have to go in blind.
In this post, we're breaking down what actually drives a website timeline, what a realistic schedule looks like for most businesses, and what you can do to keep things moving smoothly.
Firstly, why does it vary so much?
A website redesign isn't one task. It's a series of decisions, creative processes, and technical builds. The timeline is shaped by factors like:
– The size and complexity of your site (5 pages vs. 50 pages vs. a full e-commerce store)
– Whether you need a brand refresh or just a technical update
– How quickly you can provide content, photos, and feedback
– Whether you need custom functionality like booking systems, e-commerce, or integrations
– The number of stakeholders involved in approvals
Once you understand what drives the clock, it becomes a lot easier to plan around it.
For most small-to-medium NZ businesses, here's what the process typically looks like with us here at Kōwhai Creative:
Phase 1: Strategy & content. 2 to 4 weeks
Before a single design is drawn up, we make sure the foundations are right. This phase is all about research, structure, and getting the right strategy in place.
Phase 2: Writing & design. 3 to 5 weeks
With the strategy locked in, it's time to bring your website to life. First in words, then visually.
Phase 3: Development & launch. 2 to 3 weeks
The home stretch. This is where everything comes together and gets polished for the world to see.
As we near the finish line, we add any extra features and make sure the site looks great on all devices including desktop, tablet, and mobile. We run thorough final testing before anything goes live.
