Is it hard to get a tradesperson in Tauranga?
It can be — the region has grown faster than the trades in it, and the honest constraint is the calendar. Putting your timing in the request means a business that cannot make it says so up front instead of going quiet.
What are the stopping levels?
New Zealand plasterboard finishing runs to levels, with the higher ones meaning more coats and more sanding for a flatter result. Level 4 is the common residential standard and level 5 is used where lighting is critical.
Is painting included?
Usually not, though many plasterers work alongside a painter. Ask, because a plastered wall is not finished until it is sealed and painted, and the handover between the two is where jobs stall.
Can old textured ceilings be smoothed?
Often yes, by skimming, though textured ceilings in older houses can contain asbestos and must be tested before anyone disturbs them. A plasterer should raise that before quoting.
How long before I can paint?
Compound needs to dry fully between coats and before painting, so allow days rather than hours, longer in winter. Rushing it shows through the paint.