Buying a flagpole in New Zealand: price and what affects the cost

Anyone looking to buy a flagpole in New Zealand soon finds large differences in price, even between poles that look almost the same in pictures. The differences usually have an explanation: height, diameter, finish, construction, mounting and installation. This guide does not list prices, as they vary between manufacturers and retailers and change over time. Instead it explains what affects the price of a flagpole, what is usually included and which rules apply to the purchase.

What affects the price of a flagpole?

Flagpole price and height

Height is usually the biggest single factor. A taller pole needs a larger diameter and a thicker wall to cope with the wind, and the footing grows with it. Flagmakers lists a 5 metre pole with a diameter of 50 mm and a wall of 2 mm, and a 6.8 metre pole with a diameter of 75 mm and a wall of 3.25 mm. According to the Flag & Banner Company, the pole’s length and diameter are in proportion to the size of flag flown, and bigger-diameter poles have more presence. Height also affects whether a consent is needed, as described in the guide to flagpole heights, and how large a flag the pole carries, as described in the guide to buying a flag.

Finish and price

According to the Flag & Banner Company, its stock poles are powder-coated white, and other colours or anodising to marine specifications are supplied as extras. Mill-finish aluminium without a coating turns black with weathering. Flagmakers uses a branded powder coating with a ten-year guarantee on colour. A comparison of materials is in the guide to flagpole materials.

External or internal halyard

With an external halyard, the rope runs outside the pole and is tied off on a cleat. With an internal halyard, it runs inside the pole behind a lockable access point, which protects the flag and the rope against theft and vandalism. According to the Flag & Banner Company, an internal halyard needs a pole section of at least 76.25 mm, so it is only available on larger poles. The differences are explained in the guide to types of flagpoles.

Mounting and installation

Flagmakers sells the same pole with a 1 metre galvanised ground tube, parapet mounts for decks and facades, or a heavy-duty base mount for concrete, and the choice of mount changes the price. According to the Flag & Banner Company, a spigot concreted into the ground is usually the most economic way to mount a pole, and a tapered pole is a cost-effective way to make and transport poles over 6 metres long. More in the guide to installing a flagpole.

Accessories and the total price

What is on the price tag is not always everything needed to fly a flag. The usual parts are a truck with pulley, a halyard with toggles or sister clips, a cleat or internal halyard access, and lighting if the flag is to fly at night. Some makers include a flag with the pole, others sell it separately. An overview is in the guide to flagpole accessories.

Delivery and transport

A flagpole is often longer than a car, so delivery can be a noticeable part of the cost. When a pole is collected in a private vehicle, the load rules apply: according to NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, a load that overhangs the vehicle by more than 1 metre to the front or rear carries a warning flag or panel by day and a red light by night. More in the guide to transporting a flagpole.

Costs outside the purchase

• Consents: a pole that needs a building consent or a resource consent brings fees of its own, set by the council.
• Services: information on underground cables and pipes is available free of charge from beforeUdig, as described in the guide to flagpole safety.

Consumer rights when buying

• Consumer guarantees: under the Consumer Guarantees Act 1993, products sold by businesses are of acceptable quality, fit for a particular purpose and match their description, and services such as installation are carried out with reasonable care and skill, according to Consumer Protection.
• Remedies: the business can repair, replace or refund; where the failure is substantial, the buyer can reject the product or claim compensation for its drop in value.
• Not covered: a change of mind, damage from misuse, and goods bought privately from someone who is not in trade.
• Business purchases: a business buyer is covered unless the parties have agreed in writing that the Act does not apply.
• Fair trading: under the Fair Trading Act 1986, businesses must not mislead about prices or products, and according to Consumer Protection, a quote or estimate may be considered misleading if the final cost is bigger than expected.

Comparing offers

Because the price of a flagpole depends on so many parts, offers are easier to compare when it is clear what is included: height, diameter and wall thickness, finish, halyard, mounting, accessories, delivery and installation. The manufacturer’s figures for wind load and maximum flag size are part of the comparison too.