Procurement, quotes and contractsProject or third-party record guideSometimes requiredProcurement and contract administrationProfessional or third-party source requiredReviewed 11 August 2026

Approved budget

Use the Approved budget to create a comparable, authorised and traceable route from scope and tender through commitment, payment, variation and final account. It is a control aid, not a substitute for the current official, contractual or professionally prepared document where one governs.

Who initiates it

Project manager, procurement lead, quantity surveyor or contract administrator

Who fills it out

Client/developer, project manager or delegated document owner

Who reviews it

The project manager and the person with technical, contractual or commercial authority for the subject

Who approves it

Person holding delegated commercial authority; contract administrator where the contract assigns that role

Applicability

Use to the extent required by the signed procurement/contract strategy; obtain project-specific legal or contract-administration advice for rights and notices.

Who needs it

The project owner and the person controlling procurement and contract administration, including each reviewer, approver or recipient named by the live project process.

Who signs it

Only the person with the authority or professional competence required by the source document, contract, insurer, lender or authority process.

When it is needed

Prepare before the related procurement and contract administration decision or activity. Update it when scope, revision, cost, programme, responsibility, evidence or approval status changes.

Information needed

Controlled scope, quantities, revisions and package interfaces
Price basis, exclusions, validity, lead time and commercial terms
Authority, commitment, progress, notices, variations and forecast effect

Where to find the information

Issued RFQ/scope/drawings and tender transmittals
Tenderer clarifications, quote and programme
Signed contract/order, site records, measured progress and budget

Step-by-step

How to prepare, review and file it

01Confirm whether this record applies to the project and who has authority to prepare, review, sign, submit and approve it.
02Download or open the current official form or source requirements when an authority, insurer, lender or contract controls the format.
03Gather the latest controlled source documents and confirm their revisions before entering information.
04Complete every field using project-specific facts; mark not applicable with a reason and clearly label unverified assumptions.
05Cross-check names, addresses, legal description, consent numbers, dates, values, drawing references, policy details and attachments.
06Have the appropriate project owner and qualified adviser review technical, legal, financial, insurance, safety and compliance content.
07Submit or issue it through the required channel, save proof of issue and record any response or RFI.
08Track actions to close-out, then save the final signed/accepted record and attachments in the controlled project file.

Where to submit or store it

Keep as a controlled internal project record and issue by the contract or project communication method when another party must review, approve or act on it.

Submission channels

Controlled project document system
Contract communication or document transmittal
Email only where the project communication plan permits it

Documents to attach

Current drawings, specifications, reports or approval documents referenced in the record
Marked-up plans, photographs, quotes, correspondence, inspection results or certificates that support the entries
Required signatures, declarations, schedules, evidence or authority-generated receipt/acknowledgement

What happens after issue or submission

Issue through the contract communication channel, preserve delivery/read evidence, update commitments/forecast only after explicit approval and track response dates.

Controlled storage

Save the final record and supporting evidence in the controlled project document system, with the revision, issue status and related workspace record.

Source applicability

Confirm the project stage, contract, consent, consultant scope and actual site circumstances before use.

Common mistakes

Using an old template, superseded drawing, expired certificate or outdated authority process.
Copying generic wording without checking the specific property, consent, contract, policy or work package.
Leaving ownership, dates, revision, status, attachments or close-out evidence unclear.
Treating an internal checklist as an official authority, insurance, lender, legal or professional form.

Red flags and stop points

Required information conflicts between title, consented plans, consultant reports, contracts or site conditions.
A person is being asked to sign, certify or approve outside their authority or competence.
Work, purchase, payment, submission or occupation is proposed before a required approval or insurance confirmation is recorded.
Insufficient data to verify — confirm against the current consented drawings, specifications, Auckland Council requirements, Auckland Unitary Plan, NZ Building Code, relevant NZ Standard, consultant advice, manufacturer instructions, insurance broker, insurer, lender, lawyer, accountant or project contract.

Connected project controls

Related quote package: Relevant consultant, authority, supplier or trade package
Related checklist items: Procurement and contract administration; Prepare and review Approved budget; File evidence and close outstanding actions
Related software tool: Quotes Management / Budget Tracking
Example completed version: Example: Approved budget for 12 Example Road, Auckland; prepared by the named project owner; current source documents listed by number and revision; assumptions marked; two actions assigned with dates; reviewed by the appropriate adviser; final version and evidence filed in the controlled project record.

Connected Workspace record

Quotes Management / Budget Tracking

Open Workspace area

Blank editable template

Complete a project-specific record

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1. Approved budget: identity and statusEnter the controlled reference, revision, status, prepared/reviewed dates and exact project/work area.Where this information comes from: Project document register, project details and the current source process2. Scope and revisionDefine inclusions, exclusions, interfaces, quantities and exact issued documents.Where this information comes from: RFQ, scope and drawing register3. Commercial basisRecord price, tax, validity, assumptions, lead time, payment/retention and alternates.Where this information comes from: Signed quote and tender clarification4. Authority and noticeRecord who may instruct/approve, required notice method and decision deadline.Where this information comes from: Contract and delegation register5. Assessment and forecastReconcile claimed/approved amount, evidence, remaining commitment and cost-to-complete.Where this information comes from: Progress evidence, variation and budget registers6. Actions, owner and deadlineAssign every missing, failed, conditional or conflicting item to one named owner and decision deadline.Where this information comes from: Issue, decision, responsibility and programme records7. Review, approval and close-outRecord reviewer/approver authority, outcome, conditions, linked evidence and final controlled location.Where this information comes from: Authority register, signed/portal response and close-out evidence

BuildPath NZ is an educational guide and project-management resource only. It does not replace advice from Auckland Council, a planner, architect, engineer, surveyor, quantity surveyor, lawyer, accountant, lender, insurer, insurance broker, WorkSafe, Watercare, utility provider, building consent authority or other qualified professional.

Open connected workspace module

Verification

Source / where to check

Use current official information and the controlled documents for the actual project.

Project-controlled documents

Use the current project brief, approval authorities, issued drawings, specifications, contracts, consultant reports, programme, correspondence and controlled registers.

Relevant professional advice

Planner, surveyor, architect, engineer, quantity surveyor, lawyer, accountant, lender, valuer, real estate agent, and other project specialists must confirm site-specific decisions.

Project-specific consented documents and professional advice override generic guidance.

Educational resource and verification warning

Insufficient data to verify — confirm against the current consented drawings, specifications, Auckland Council requirements, Auckland Unitary Plan, NZ Building Code, relevant NZ Standard, consultant advice, manufacturer instructions, insurance broker, insurer, lender, lawyer, accountant or project contract.