Waikato
Tom Dawson
Brand Designer & Website Designer
Hire an API developer in New Zealand
Connect systems, automate workflows and unlock faster reporting — experienced API developers who integrate cloud services and common business platforms.
Auckland
Kate Riley
Business Systems Consultant | Custom Internal Business Apps
Taupo
Brett Ransley
Senior Full-stack Developer & CMS Expert (Joomla & WordPress)
Tauranga
Stuart Farquhar
Full Stack Software Developer
Wellington
Jake Fulton
AI Engineer
Queenstown/Wanaka
Stephen Johnson
No-code Product Developer
What this service is for
What can an API developer help you build?
APIs let different systems share data, automate manual tasks and power customer-facing features — an API developer will connect your software, reduce manual work and enable faster reporting and integrations.
Connect finance and sales systems
Integrate Xero, shop or POS systems and CRMs to stop duplicate entry and speed invoice and inventory processes.
Automate reporting and workflows
Pull data from multiple sources into dashboards and trigger workflows that remove manual handoffs.
Open your platform to partners
Create secure partner or public APIs so third parties can integrate your services or embed your data.
How Unicorn Factory works
A simple way to find the right freelancer.
Create one project brief, compare applications from relevant freelancers, and choose who you would like to meet.
Step 01
Tell us what you need.
Use the guided brief to explain the outcome, timing, budget, and context. You do not need to prepare a technical specification.
Freelancers in our network
Profiles from our network
These are example profiles from the Unicorn Factory network — if you’d like similar skills, create a brief. A business creates a project brief, relevant freelancers apply, the business reviews applications, and Unicorn Factory makes warm introductions.
Tell us about your project
Tom
Brand Designer & Website Designer
Waikato
Branding
Kate
Business Systems Consultant | Custom Internal Business Apps
Auckland
Design & Creative
Brett
Senior Full-stack Developer & CMS Expert (Joomla & WordPress)
Taupo
Software & App Development
Stuart
Full Stack Software Developer
Tauranga
Software & App Development
Ideas for your brief
Project ideas you can hire for
Three common project scopes businesses hire API developers for — each listing suggests typical deliverables you can request in your brief.
Accounting and e‑commerce integration
Connect your online store or POS to your accounting system so sales, refunds and inventory update automatically.
- Integration plan and data mapping (sales, refunds, stock, customers)
- Connectors using the chosen platform (e.g. Xero, Shopify, MYOB) or middleware
- Tested data-sync workflows and webhook handling
- Deployment notes, handover documentation and optional monitoring setup
Partner-facing REST API
Build a documented API to let partners access selected data and actions securely.
- API design and OpenAPI (Swagger) specification
- Authentication and access controls (API keys or OAuth)
- Implemented endpoints, webhooks and error handling
- Developer documentation and basic usage examples
Internal automation and dashboard feed
Create secure endpoints and pipelines to centralise data for reporting and automation.
- Data pipeline design and transformation scripts
- Secure API endpoints for dashboard feeds or BI tools
- Integration with automation tools (e.g. Zapier, n8n) where appropriate
- Operational runbook, logging guidance and optional support agreement
Proof lives in the work
Related work from our network
Examples of real projects delivered by freelancers in the Unicorn Factory network. These are brief descriptions supplied by the project owners or freelancers — view the full case study cards below when available for more detail.
See API Development Projects
Software & App Development
RepAI: AI-powered Reputation & Media Intelligence for Public Affairs
- API Development
- Dashboards & Data Visualisation
- Airtable
Oliver Le Lievre
Software & App Development
Carepatron - Building a custom infrastructure for 500K monthly visitors across 24 languages
- API Development
- UX Design
- Performance Optimization
Isaac Farrow
Software & App Development
HelpU App: Connecting Users with Certified Household Helpers
- API Development
- UX Design
- User Research
Natasha Livia TanumihardjaSoftware & App Development
End-to-End SaaS Development for EsseVault Digital Legacy Platform
- API Development
- Frontend Development
- Backend Development
Eckardt BriedenhannPricing guidance
How much does API development cost?
Indicative NZD price bands to help you scope a brief — final cost depends on scope, integrations and the freelancer you hire.
Small integration or Zapier-style automation
Simple data syncs, a few endpoints, or no-code/low-code automations that connect two systems.
NZ$3,000–NZ$8,000
Medium: multiple integrations or custom endpoints
Multiple systems, authentication, data mapping, testing and deployment to a cloud environment.
NZ$8,000–NZ$25,000
Large: public APIs or platform work
Public or partner APIs, full backend development, scalability and production-grade monitoring.
NZ$25,000–NZ$120,000+
What affects the price
- Number of systems to integrate and complexity of data mapping
- Authentication, compliance and security requirements (e.g. OAuth, PII handling)
- Hosting, API call volumes and third‑party API costs
- Level of documentation, testing and ongoing support required
Estimates are indicative. Final scope and freelancer rates vary. Prices are NZ$ and may exclude GST and ongoing software or platform fees — request a tailored quote when you post your brief.
Frequently asked questions
Common questions before you hire.
Answers to the questions clients commonly ask before starting a brief.
Still deciding what you need?
Start with the outcome and the context you already have. A polished specification is not required.
How long will my API project take?
Small integrations can take a few days to a couple of weeks; medium projects commonly take several weeks; larger platform work may take months. The freelancer you hire will give a timeline based on your brief.
How do I choose the right freelancer?
Look for relevant examples of similar integrations, clear documentation samples, and hands-on experience with your primary platforms (for example Xero, Shopify or your CRM). Ask for a short proposal and references in applications.
Who owns the code and IP?
Ownership is agreed between you and the freelancer in the contract. If you need full ownership, state this in your brief and confirm it before work starts.
What about security and compliance?
Specify security needs in your brief (data encryption, user authentication, data retention). For regulated data (payments, banking, health) confirm compliance requirements before development—freelancers can implement controls but you must agree exact obligations in the contract.
Do these prices include ongoing hosting or API fees?
No. Estimates typically exclude ongoing hosting, API call charges or third-party service fees; include expected operational costs in your brief so applicants can factor them into proposals.
Ready to get moving?
Ready to hire an API developer?
Create a brief with your goals and integrations, then review the applicants who apply. If you prefer, ask for help drafting the brief — it speeds up finding the right developers.