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Most cabinets in New Zealand are made from chipboard, known in the trade as Weetbix. Some better kitchen makers use HMR (High Moisture Resistant) board. This is a much better choice because it will resist liquid spills (not uncommon in the kitchen) and resist the dreaded swelling that happens when chipboard gets wet.
Other, usually older generation, kitchen makers still use MDF board, which is stronger but not much more water resistant than chipboard. Whichever material is used the board will usually be covered in Melamine, a white low pressure laminate material.
You do have choices. The cheapest is raw MDF board, which you paint yourself. Melamine covered board, white being the cheapest but you can choose other colours at extra cost. Timber veneered board, in which wood veneer is used instead of melamine - this will need lacquering to protect it. Plywood can be used, which is strong and durable. Most expensive but very nice in the right setting, is solid timber, which gives more than a touch of opulence to a kitchen.
Most people regard the kitchen cupboard as a utility item that is to be covered up by the benchtop and doors or drawers. This is why the vast majority of kitchen suppliers use the plain white box. However there is one thing to look out for with these semmingly identical cupboards: the quality of the shelf edging. The cheaper cabinets will have a paper edge tape, which hides the cut edge of the board. This is paper thin and will easily chip and tear; it will not protect the board from moisture. Better is PVC edging and the thicker the edging the better. It starts at about 0.3 mm and goes up to 2 mm. This will give much better protection from moisture and 2 mm tape will give excellent protection from knocks and scratches, and will look good for years to come.
All new cabinets look good when you open them. Only good quality cabinets continue to look good for years to come.
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