Termites · Auckland-wide

Termite Inspection Auckland

Termite inspection for Auckland homes: we confirm if it's termites, borer or ants, treat native termites in damp timber, and help you report exotic ones to MPI.

Species identified before anything is treated
Typical cost $180 – $450 incl. GST — quoted up front
Written record of products used and where they went

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Trained & insured techniciansUrban pest management, applied to label

Usually within 2–4 working daysUrgent jobs prioritised where we can

Pet & child-conscious methodsEPA-approved products, targeted placement

Written record every visitWhat was used, where, and what to seal

Termite inspection in Auckland: the short answer

A termite inspection in Auckland typically costs $180 to $450 including GST: from $180 to identify what you have and give you a written report, with native termite treatment quoted within that range. New Zealand has three native termites. They live in small colonies in dead or damp wood, and MPI does not regard them as destructive. Australian subterranean termites (Coptotermes) are a different matter: an unwanted pest that MPI deals with, not a private contractor. Most suspected termites turn out to be borer or flying ants: here is how to tell termites from ants and borer. If something looks exotic, leave it undisturbed and we will help you report it to MPI on 0800 80 99 66.

Signs to look for

Signs of termites (and what's usually mistaken for them)

Winged insects (alates, or swarmers) coming out indoors or around lights on a warm evening. Check the waist and wings: termites have a thick waist and four wings of equal length, flying ants a pinched waist and unequal wings
Discarded wings in small piles on windowsills, doorsteps or the floor below a light
Mud tubes or packed mud on piles, foundations, walls or garden sleepers: a strong sign of subterranean termites, so photograph it and report it to MPI
Timber that sounds hollow when tapped or feels soft, especially where it stays damp
Tiny hard pellets of frass, about 1 mm long, piled beneath pinhole openings in timber. Borer leaves gritty dust instead
Damage that follows the grain of the wood, with long galleries inside and a thin intact surface

If any of these sound familiar, describe what you have noticed when you call — where it is, when it started and what you have seen. You do not need to identify anything yourself. Call 09 925 0448 or request an estimate online.

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Know what you have

Termites in New Zealand: native and exotic

Three kinds of termite matter in New Zealand: two native groups that live in dead or damp wood, and the Australian subterranean termite, which is not established here and which MPI treats as an unwanted pest. All of them live in colonies run by a king and queen, with workers and soldiers, and feed on the cellulose in wood. Which one you have decides whether the answer is a moisture repair or a phone call to MPI.

Native drywood termite

Kalotermes brouni: the most common of the three natives

Found throughout New Zealand in dead, dry wood: dead branches and the heartwood of living trees such as pōhutukawa, macrocarpa and radiata pine, and occasionally dry timber in a building. Colonies are small and grow slowly. The winged adults are about 5 mm long, with greyish wings reaching well past the body, and fly in late summer and autumn. Its droppings are hard pellets, six-sided in cross-section. An old nest can weaken the piece of timber it lives in, but the damage stays local.

Native dampwood termites

Stolotermes ruficeps and S. inopinus: the wetwood termites

These live in moist, partly decayed wood: logs, stumps, dead branch stubs and, now and then, timber that stays wet in use, such as framing behind a long-running leak or boards touching the soil. The NZ Farm Forestry Association (NZFFA) puts a typical colony at 50 to 250 termites. The winged adults are 12–15 mm long, fly in autumn and seldom go far. Finding them in a house is really a moisture finding, because they depend on wet, decaying wood.

Australian subterranean termites (exotic)

Coptotermes acinaciformis and relatives: an unwanted pest

One of Australia's most destructive timber pests, with colonies that can pass a million termites. They travel through soil and mud tubes and will attack treated as well as untreated timber. New Zealand incursions have been traced to imported Australian hardwood such as poles and railway sleepers. MPI eradicated earlier outbreaks, and Auckland houses found infested in 2021 were treated and remain under monitoring. If you suspect them, do not disturb or spray anything: report it to MPI.

Our method

How a termite inspection works

Every job follows the same sequence, because skipping a step is how treatments end up being repeated at your expense.

Identify what you have
We look at the insects, wings, droppings and damage, and tell you whether it is termites, borer, flying ants or something else. If it is termites, we work out whether the signs fit a native species living in dead or damp wood, or whether anything points to an exotic termite. Most inspections end at this step with a clear, reassuring answer.
If it could be exotic, stop and report
If there are mud tubes, mudding in timber, or termites around imported hardwood such as old railway sleepers, we stop. Nothing is sprayed, broken open or moved. We photograph what we can see with an object for scale, note the location, and help you report it to MPI's exotic pest and disease hotline on 0800 80 99 66 or its online form. MPI's specialists decide what happens next, and we cooperate with their response.
Moisture check
Native dampwood termites point straight at wet timber, so we look for the cause: plumbing and roof leaks, blocked subfloor vents, poor drainage, timber touching soil, and garden beds built up against weatherboards. We tell you what needs fixing and in what order. Drying the timber out is the part of the job that stops them coming back.
Treating native termite activity
Decayed timber that native termites have moved into usually needs cutting out and replacing, which is a builder's job, and we refer you to one. Around that, we treat the affected area and nearby exposed timber with a targeted timber treatment, using the same approach as our borer work. Replacement timber should be treated to the correct hazard class for where it is going.
Written report
You get a written report: what we found and where, whether it is native or was referred to MPI, which timber is affected, the moisture problems to fix, and anything a builder should assess. It is written to be useful for a pre-purchase decision, an insurer or a landlord. We do not issue termite guarantees or certificates of freedom from termites.

Termite Inspection treatment in progress

Pricing

How much a termite inspection costs in Auckland

Typical range for this service is $180 – $450 including GST. We quote before we start, and the price we give you is the price you pay unless the job turns out to be materially different from what was described on the phone.

What moves the price: property size and access, how far the infestation has progressed, whether roof or subfloor work is needed, and whether follow-up visits are required to complete the job properly.

See the full cost guide

Typical cost: $180 – $450 incl. GST
Call-out fee: None
Typical wait: 2–4 working days
Follow-up: Included where the pest requires one
Coverage: Wider Auckland region
Documentation: Written record of products and placements

Where we work

Termite Inspection across Auckland

We carry out termite inspections across the Auckland region. Most calls follow winged insects indoors or damaged timber found by a builder or pre-purchase inspector, and native dampwood termites can turn up wherever timber stays wet, whatever the suburb.

Guides on this pest

Termites in New Zealand: Native vs Exotic, the Signs, and What to Do If You Find Them · 11 min read
Borer in New Zealand Homes: How to Identify It and Tell If It's Still Active · 10 min read

All pest advice guides →

Questions

Termites: questions people ask

Are termites a problem in New Zealand?

Rarely, in the way people fear. New Zealand has three native termite species, and MPI does not regard them as destructive: they form small colonies in dead or damp wood. The serious biosecurity risk is exotic termites, such as the Australian subterranean termite, which are not established here. They arrive occasionally in imported timber or on boats, and MPI treats and monitors every infestation it finds. That is why suspected exotic termites are reported, not treated privately.

How can you tell termites from flying ants?

Look at the waist, the wings and the antennae. A termite's body runs straight from head to tail, with no pinched waist, its four wings are the same length, and its antennae are straight and beaded. A flying ant has a narrow wasp-like waist, front wings longer than the back ones, and antennae bent at an elbow. Flying ants are far more common in Auckland homes; our ant control page covers them.

Can I treat termites myself?

For native dampwood termites in rotten timber, the useful DIY is fixing the moisture: stop the leak, clear the vents, move soil and garden beds away from timber, and have decayed wood replaced. For anything that could be an exotic termite, no. Do not spray, dig or break open the timber, because MPI's own guidance is that disturbing them makes eradication harder. Photograph it and report it on 0800 80 99 66, as MPI expects under the Biosecurity Act 1993.

What is a full termite inspection?

A room-by-room and subfloor check of the timber in and around the house: piles, bearers, joists, framing you can reach, the roof space, window and door joinery, decks, fences, garden sleepers and any stored firewood. We look for insects, wings, droppings, mud tubes and damaged timber, and take moisture readings where timber looks damp. You get a written report of what we found, what it is, and what to do next.

Will termites go away on their own?

Native dampwood termites usually die out once their wood dries out or is removed, because they depend on moist, decaying timber. Native drywood termites can live in the same dry piece of wood for years, so affected timber is normally replaced. Exotic termites will not go away, and a colony can live hidden in timber for years before winged adults appear. If you suspect exotic termites, report them to MPI rather than wait.

Is it termites or borer?

Borer is far more likely. House borer leaves small round flight holes and gritty bore dust, while termites leave hard pellets about 1 mm long, discarded wings, or, for subterranean termites, mud packed into the timber. Borer larvae tunnel for years without any mud or wings. Our guide on borer vs termites shows the difference in more detail, including the frass each one leaves.

How much does a termite inspection cost?

A termite inspection in Auckland costs from about $180 including GST, which covers identification and a written report. Treating native termite activity in damp timber is quoted after the inspection and typically falls within $180 to $450, while larger jobs and builder repairs are quoted separately. Calling MPI's exotic pest and disease hotline is free. Our cost guide lists prices for other services.

How do I prevent termites?

Keep timber dry and off the ground. Fix leaks quickly, keep subfloor vents clear, stop garden beds and soil from building up against weatherboards, and store firewood away from the house. Use treated timber for anything touching the ground. Be careful with second-hand Australian hardwood such as old railway sleepers or poles, which is how subterranean termites have reached New Zealand before, and check it for mud or damage before it goes into your garden.

More services

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References and further reading

Written and reviewed by the Pest Control Auckland technical team. Last reviewed 24 September 2026.

Need termite inspection in Auckland?

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