What a pet sitter costs in New Zealand

Each sitter's card in New Zealand lists the services they have active, so you are not restricted to pet sitting. The rate shown is what you pay, with no platform commission on the owner side.

No standard rate is imposed. Sitters in New Zealand publish their own, and the figure on the card is what you are charged, with no owner-side commission added at checkout. Every completed booking also earns cashback.

Going by what local sitters charge (measured October 2026), dog boarding at a sitter's home costs NZ$40-65 a night and a 30 minute walk NZ$15-35. Home doggy daycare is NZ$25-65 a day, a cat visit NZ$15-35 and house sitting NZ$35-80 a night. All prices are GST inclusive.

The kennels we checked charge NZ$25-68 a day, from NZ$25 in Nelson to NZ$68 at a West Auckland kennel. Kennels price by calendar day, so a Friday drop-off and Sunday pick-up is three days, not two nights. A cattery is NZ$15-22 a day on the same basis.

Local sitters charge NZ$35-80 a night for a house sit that includes the pets, going by October 2026 prices. Most cities sit around NZ$45-60, with Dunedin and Queenstown at the top. The sitter stays overnight in your home, so the rate covers the night as well as feeding, walks and the house routine.

Overnight dog boarding at a sitter's home costs NZ$40-65 a night across New Zealand's main cities, from NZ$40-55 in Auckland to NZ$49-65 in Christchurch. A sitter who stays at your place instead charges the house sitting rate, NZ$35-80 a night.

Home daycare with a local sitter costs NZ$30-50 a day in Wellington (October 2026). The daycare centres we checked charge more: NZ$56 for a casual day at The Barking Lot in Te Aro and NZ$68-72 at Waglands in Lower Hutt. Ask any sitter about pick-up before you book.

Local rates follow local demand. A 30 minute walk is NZ$15-20 in Hamilton against NZ$20-30 in Auckland, and home boarding is NZ$35-50 a night against NZ$40-55. Christchurch, Dunedin and Queenstown sit at the top of the boarding range.

On Petme, no. Petme charges pet owners 0% in service fees. The price you see is the price you pay. Sitters set GST-inclusive rates, so there are no surprises at checkout.

Petme credits cashback to your in-app balance on every completed booking. You can spend it on your next booking. No expiry, no minimum, no opt-in.

Yes, there is no extra charge for it. The Petme Protection Plan can contribute up to NZ$39,000+ toward eligible vet costs for a pet cared for through a Petme booking. It is a fund for eligible costs, so check the Protection Plan terms for what qualifies.

Sitter base rates on Petme tend to land in the same range as on other home-based platforms. The difference is the platform structure: Petme charges pet owners 0%, while other platforms commonly add an undisclosed service fee at checkout. Kennels are often cheaper per night but provide group housing rather than home-based care.