diff --git a/stack_orchestrator/constants.py b/stack_orchestrator/constants.py
index 1e24794c..f15e8870 100644
--- a/stack_orchestrator/constants.py
+++ b/stack_orchestrator/constants.py
@@ -14,3 +14,9 @@
 # along with this program.  If not, see <http:#www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 
 stack_file_name = "stack.yml"
+compose_deploy_type = "compose"
+k8s_kind_deploy_type = "k8s-kind"
+k8s_deploy_type = "k8s"
+kube_config_key = "kube-config"
+kind_config_filename = "kind-config.yml"
+kube_config_filename = "kubeconfig.yml"
diff --git a/stack_orchestrator/deploy/compose/deploy_docker.py b/stack_orchestrator/deploy/compose/deploy_docker.py
index b37f3cf0..fc249ebc 100644
--- a/stack_orchestrator/deploy/compose/deploy_docker.py
+++ b/stack_orchestrator/deploy/compose/deploy_docker.py
@@ -20,10 +20,12 @@ from stack_orchestrator.deploy.deployer import Deployer, DeployerException, Depl
 
 class DockerDeployer(Deployer):
     name: str = "compose"
+    type: str
 
-    def __init__(self, deployment_dir, compose_files, compose_project_name, compose_env_file) -> None:
+    def __init__(self, type, deployment_dir, compose_files, compose_project_name, compose_env_file) -> None:
         self.docker = DockerClient(compose_files=compose_files, compose_project_name=compose_project_name,
                                    compose_env_file=compose_env_file)
+        self.type = type
 
     def up(self, detach, services):
         try:
@@ -70,9 +72,8 @@ class DockerDeployer(Deployer):
 
 
 class DockerDeployerConfigGenerator(DeployerConfigGenerator):
-    config_file_name: str = "kind-config.yml"
 
-    def __init__(self) -> None:
+    def __init__(self, type: str) -> None:
         super().__init__()
 
     # Nothing needed at present for the docker deployer
diff --git a/stack_orchestrator/deploy/deploy.py b/stack_orchestrator/deploy/deploy.py
index f931a0d0..c01a7e08 100644
--- a/stack_orchestrator/deploy/deploy.py
+++ b/stack_orchestrator/deploy/deploy.py
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ from stack_orchestrator.deploy.deployment_create import setup as deployment_setu
 @click.option("--exclude", help="don\'t start these components")
 @click.option("--env-file", help="env file to be used")
 @click.option("--cluster", help="specify a non-default cluster name")
-@click.option("--deploy-to", help="cluster system to deploy to (compose or k8s)")
+@click.option("--deploy-to", help="cluster system to deploy to (compose or k8s or k8s-kind)")
 @click.pass_context
 def command(ctx, include, exclude, env_file, cluster, deploy_to):
     '''deploy a stack'''
@@ -62,11 +62,11 @@ def command(ctx, include, exclude, env_file, cluster, deploy_to):
 
 
 def create_deploy_context(
-        global_context, deployment_context: DeploymentContext, stack, include, exclude, cluster, env_file, deployer):
+        global_context, deployment_context: DeploymentContext, stack, include, exclude, cluster, env_file, deploy_to):
     cluster_context = _make_cluster_context(global_context, stack, include, exclude, cluster, env_file)
     deployment_dir = deployment_context.deployment_dir if deployment_context else None
     # See: https://gabrieldemarmiesse.github.io/python-on-whales/sub-commands/compose/
-    deployer = getDeployer(deployer, deployment_dir, compose_files=cluster_context.compose_files,
+    deployer = getDeployer(deploy_to, deployment_dir, compose_files=cluster_context.compose_files,
                            compose_project_name=cluster_context.cluster,
                            compose_env_file=cluster_context.env_file)
     return DeployCommandContext(stack, cluster_context, deployer)
diff --git a/stack_orchestrator/deploy/deployer_factory.py b/stack_orchestrator/deploy/deployer_factory.py
index 5d515418..de2808c5 100644
--- a/stack_orchestrator/deploy/deployer_factory.py
+++ b/stack_orchestrator/deploy/deployer_factory.py
@@ -13,23 +13,24 @@
 # You should have received a copy of the GNU Affero General Public License
 # along with this program.  If not, see <http:#www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 
+from stack_orchestrator import constants
 from stack_orchestrator.deploy.k8s.deploy_k8s import K8sDeployer, K8sDeployerConfigGenerator
 from stack_orchestrator.deploy.compose.deploy_docker import DockerDeployer, DockerDeployerConfigGenerator
 
 
 def getDeployerConfigGenerator(type: str):
     if type == "compose" or type is None:
-        return DockerDeployerConfigGenerator()
-    elif type == "k8s":
-        return K8sDeployerConfigGenerator()
+        return DockerDeployerConfigGenerator(type)
+    elif type == constants.k8s_deploy_type or type == constants.k8s_kind_deploy_type:
+        return K8sDeployerConfigGenerator(type)
     else:
         print(f"ERROR: deploy-to {type} is not valid")
 
 
 def getDeployer(type: str, deployment_dir, compose_files, compose_project_name, compose_env_file):
     if type == "compose" or type is None:
-        return DockerDeployer(deployment_dir, compose_files, compose_project_name, compose_env_file)
-    elif type == "k8s":
-        return K8sDeployer(deployment_dir, compose_files, compose_project_name, compose_env_file)
+        return DockerDeployer(type, deployment_dir, compose_files, compose_project_name, compose_env_file)
+    elif type == type == constants.k8s_deploy_type or type == constants.k8s_kind_deploy_type:
+        return K8sDeployer(type, deployment_dir, compose_files, compose_project_name, compose_env_file)
     else:
         print(f"ERROR: deploy-to {type} is not valid")
diff --git a/stack_orchestrator/deploy/deployment.py b/stack_orchestrator/deploy/deployment.py
index e22d7dcc..586a2b2a 100644
--- a/stack_orchestrator/deploy/deployment.py
+++ b/stack_orchestrator/deploy/deployment.py
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 import click
 from pathlib import Path
 import sys
+from stack_orchestrator import constants
 from stack_orchestrator.deploy.deploy import up_operation, down_operation, ps_operation, port_operation
 from stack_orchestrator.deploy.deploy import exec_operation, logs_operation, create_deploy_context
 from stack_orchestrator.deploy.deployment_context import DeploymentContext
@@ -50,8 +51,12 @@ def make_deploy_context(ctx):
     stack_file_path = context.get_stack_file()
     env_file = context.get_env_file()
     cluster_name = context.get_cluster_name()
+    if "deploy-to" in context.spec.obj:
+        deployment_type = context.spec.obj["deploy-to"]
+    else:
+        deployment_type = constants.compose_deploy_type
     return create_deploy_context(ctx.parent.parent.obj, context, stack_file_path, None, None, cluster_name, env_file,
-                                 context.spec.obj["deploy-to"])
+                                 deployment_type)
 
 
 @command.command()
diff --git a/stack_orchestrator/deploy/deployment_create.py b/stack_orchestrator/deploy/deployment_create.py
index c00c0dc6..c9ba3a10 100644
--- a/stack_orchestrator/deploy/deployment_create.py
+++ b/stack_orchestrator/deploy/deployment_create.py
@@ -21,16 +21,17 @@ from typing import List
 import random
 from shutil import copy, copyfile, copytree
 import sys
+from stack_orchestrator import constants
 from stack_orchestrator.util import (get_stack_file_path, get_parsed_deployment_spec, get_parsed_stack_config,
                                      global_options, get_yaml, get_pod_list, get_pod_file_path, pod_has_scripts,
-                                     get_pod_script_paths, get_plugin_code_paths)
+                                     get_pod_script_paths, get_plugin_code_paths, error_exit)
 from stack_orchestrator.deploy.deploy_types import LaconicStackSetupCommand
 from stack_orchestrator.deploy.deployer_factory import getDeployerConfigGenerator
 from stack_orchestrator.deploy.deployment_context import DeploymentContext
 
 
 def _make_default_deployment_dir():
-    return "deployment-001"
+    return Path("deployment-001")
 
 
 def _get_ports(stack):
@@ -248,17 +249,21 @@ def _parse_config_variables(variable_values: str):
 
 @click.command()
 @click.option("--config", help="Provide config variables for the deployment")
+@click.option("--kube-config", help="Provide a config file for a k8s deployment")
 @click.option("--output", required=True, help="Write yaml spec file here")
 @click.option("--map-ports-to-host", required=False,
               help="Map ports to the host as one of: any-variable-random (default), "
               "localhost-same, any-same, localhost-fixed-random, any-fixed-random")
 @click.pass_context
-def init(ctx, config, output, map_ports_to_host):
+def init(ctx, config, kube_config, output, map_ports_to_host):
     yaml = get_yaml()
     stack = global_options(ctx).stack
     debug = global_options(ctx).debug
+    deployer_type = ctx.obj.deployer.type
     default_spec_file_content = call_stack_deploy_init(ctx.obj)
-    spec_file_content = {"stack": stack, "deploy-to": ctx.obj.deployer.name}
+    spec_file_content = {"stack": stack, "deploy-to": deployer_type}
+    if deployer_type == "k8s":
+        spec_file_content.update({constants.kube_config_key: kube_config})
     if default_spec_file_content:
         spec_file_content.update(default_spec_file_content)
     config_variables = _parse_config_variables(config)
@@ -296,6 +301,12 @@ def _write_config_file(spec_file: Path, config_env_file: Path):
                     output_file.write(f"{variable_name}={variable_value}\n")
 
 
+def _write_kube_config_file(external_path: Path, internal_path: Path):
+    if not external_path.exists():
+        error_exit(f"Kube config file {external_path} does not exist")
+    copyfile(external_path, internal_path)
+
+
 def _copy_files_to_directory(file_paths: List[Path], directory: Path):
     for path in file_paths:
         # Using copy to preserve the execute bit
@@ -310,29 +321,34 @@ def _copy_files_to_directory(file_paths: List[Path], directory: Path):
 @click.option("--initial-peers", help="Initial set of persistent peers")
 @click.pass_context
 def create(ctx, spec_file, deployment_dir, network_dir, initial_peers):
-    # This function fails with a useful error message if the file doens't exist
     parsed_spec = get_parsed_deployment_spec(spec_file)
     stack_name = parsed_spec["stack"]
+    deployment_type = parsed_spec["deploy-to"]
     stack_file = get_stack_file_path(stack_name)
     parsed_stack = get_parsed_stack_config(stack_name)
     if global_options(ctx).debug:
         print(f"parsed spec: {parsed_spec}")
     if deployment_dir is None:
-        deployment_dir = _make_default_deployment_dir()
-    if os.path.exists(deployment_dir):
-        print(f"Error: {deployment_dir} already exists")
-        sys.exit(1)
-    os.mkdir(deployment_dir)
+        deployment_dir_path = _make_default_deployment_dir()
+    else:
+        deployment_dir_path = Path(deployment_dir)
+    if deployment_dir_path.exists():
+        error_exit(f"{deployment_dir_path} already exists")
+    os.mkdir(deployment_dir_path)
     # Copy spec file and the stack file into the deployment dir
-    copyfile(spec_file, os.path.join(deployment_dir, "spec.yml"))
-    copyfile(stack_file, os.path.join(deployment_dir, os.path.basename(stack_file)))
+    copyfile(spec_file, deployment_dir_path.joinpath("spec.yml"))
+    copyfile(stack_file, deployment_dir_path.joinpath(os.path.basename(stack_file)))
     # Copy any config varibles from the spec file into an env file suitable for compose
-    _write_config_file(spec_file, os.path.join(deployment_dir, "config.env"))
+    _write_config_file(spec_file, deployment_dir_path.joinpath("config.env"))
+    # Copy any k8s config file into the deployment dir
+    if deployment_type == "k8s":
+        _write_kube_config_file(Path(parsed_spec[constants.kube_config_key]),
+                                deployment_dir_path.joinpath(constants.kube_config_filename))
     # Copy the pod files into the deployment dir, fixing up content
     pods = get_pod_list(parsed_stack)
-    destination_compose_dir = os.path.join(deployment_dir, "compose")
+    destination_compose_dir = deployment_dir_path.joinpath("compose")
     os.mkdir(destination_compose_dir)
-    destination_pods_dir = os.path.join(deployment_dir, "pods")
+    destination_pods_dir = deployment_dir_path.joinpath("pods")
     os.mkdir(destination_pods_dir)
     data_dir = Path(__file__).absolute().parent.parent.joinpath("data")
     yaml = get_yaml()
@@ -340,12 +356,12 @@ def create(ctx, spec_file, deployment_dir, network_dir, initial_peers):
         pod_file_path = get_pod_file_path(parsed_stack, pod)
         parsed_pod_file = yaml.load(open(pod_file_path, "r"))
         extra_config_dirs = _find_extra_config_dirs(parsed_pod_file, pod)
-        destination_pod_dir = os.path.join(destination_pods_dir, pod)
+        destination_pod_dir = destination_pods_dir.joinpath(pod)
         os.mkdir(destination_pod_dir)
         if global_options(ctx).debug:
             print(f"extra config dirs: {extra_config_dirs}")
         _fixup_pod_file(parsed_pod_file, parsed_spec, destination_compose_dir)
-        with open(os.path.join(destination_compose_dir, "docker-compose-%s.yml" % pod), "w") as output_file:
+        with open(destination_compose_dir.joinpath("docker-compose-%s.yml" % pod), "w") as output_file:
             yaml.dump(parsed_pod_file, output_file)
         # Copy the config files for the pod, if any
         config_dirs = {pod}
@@ -353,13 +369,13 @@ def create(ctx, spec_file, deployment_dir, network_dir, initial_peers):
         for config_dir in config_dirs:
             source_config_dir = data_dir.joinpath("config", config_dir)
             if os.path.exists(source_config_dir):
-                destination_config_dir = os.path.join(deployment_dir, "config", config_dir)
+                destination_config_dir = deployment_dir_path.joinpath("config", config_dir)
                 # If the same config dir appears in multiple pods, it may already have been copied
                 if not os.path.exists(destination_config_dir):
                     copytree(source_config_dir, destination_config_dir)
         # Copy the script files for the pod, if any
         if pod_has_scripts(parsed_stack, pod):
-            destination_script_dir = os.path.join(destination_pod_dir, "scripts")
+            destination_script_dir = destination_pod_dir.joinpath("scripts")
             os.mkdir(destination_script_dir)
             script_paths = get_pod_script_paths(parsed_stack, pod)
             _copy_files_to_directory(script_paths, destination_script_dir)
@@ -369,11 +385,11 @@ def create(ctx, spec_file, deployment_dir, network_dir, initial_peers):
     deployment_command_context = ctx.obj
     deployment_command_context.stack = stack_name
     deployment_context = DeploymentContext()
-    deployment_context.init(Path(deployment_dir))
+    deployment_context.init(deployment_dir_path)
     # Call the deployer to generate any deployer-specific files (e.g. for kind)
-    deployer_config_generator = getDeployerConfigGenerator(parsed_spec["deploy-to"])
-    # TODO: make deployment_dir a Path above
-    deployer_config_generator.generate(Path(deployment_dir))
+    deployer_config_generator = getDeployerConfigGenerator(deployment_type)
+    # TODO: make deployment_dir_path a Path above
+    deployer_config_generator.generate(deployment_dir_path)
     call_stack_deploy_create(deployment_context, [network_dir, initial_peers])
 
 
diff --git a/stack_orchestrator/deploy/k8s/deploy_k8s.py b/stack_orchestrator/deploy/k8s/deploy_k8s.py
index 627d6e0b..44eb9f0e 100644
--- a/stack_orchestrator/deploy/k8s/deploy_k8s.py
+++ b/stack_orchestrator/deploy/k8s/deploy_k8s.py
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 from pathlib import Path
 from kubernetes import client, config
 
+from stack_orchestrator import constants
 from stack_orchestrator.deploy.deployer import Deployer, DeployerConfigGenerator
 from stack_orchestrator.deploy.k8s.helpers import create_cluster, destroy_cluster, load_images_into_kind
 from stack_orchestrator.deploy.k8s.helpers import pods_in_deployment, log_stream_from_string, generate_kind_config
@@ -25,6 +26,7 @@ from stack_orchestrator.opts import opts
 
 class K8sDeployer(Deployer):
     name: str = "k8s"
+    type: str
     core_api: client.CoreV1Api
     apps_api: client.AppsV1Api
     k8s_namespace: str = "default"
@@ -32,28 +34,35 @@ class K8sDeployer(Deployer):
     cluster_info : ClusterInfo
     deployment_dir: Path
 
-    def __init__(self, deployment_dir, compose_files, compose_project_name, compose_env_file) -> None:
+    def __init__(self, type, deployment_dir, compose_files, compose_project_name, compose_env_file) -> None:
         if (opts.o.debug):
             print(f"Deployment dir: {deployment_dir}")
             print(f"Compose files: {compose_files}")
             print(f"Project name: {compose_project_name}")
             print(f"Env file: {compose_env_file}")
+            print(f"Type: {type}")
+        self.type = type
         self.deployment_dir = deployment_dir
         self.kind_cluster_name = compose_project_name
         self.cluster_info = ClusterInfo()
         self.cluster_info.int(compose_files, compose_env_file)
 
     def connect_api(self):
-        config.load_kube_config(context=f"kind-{self.kind_cluster_name}")
+        if self.is_kind():
+            config.load_kube_config(context=f"kind-{self.kind_cluster_name}")
+        else:
+            # Get the config file and pass to load_kube_config()
+            config.load_kube_config(config_file=self.deployment_dir.joinpath(constants.kube_config_filename).as_posix())
         self.core_api = client.CoreV1Api()
         self.apps_api = client.AppsV1Api()
 
     def up(self, detach, services):
-        # Create the kind cluster
-        create_cluster(self.kind_cluster_name, self.deployment_dir.joinpath("kind-config.yml"))
+        if self.is_kind():
+            # Create the kind cluster
+            create_cluster(self.kind_cluster_name, self.deployment_dir.joinpath(constants.kind_config_filename))
+            # Ensure the referenced containers are copied into kind
+            load_images_into_kind(self.kind_cluster_name, self.cluster_info.image_set)
         self.connect_api()
-        # Ensure the referenced containers are copied into kind
-        load_images_into_kind(self.kind_cluster_name, self.cluster_info.image_set)
 
         # Create the host-path-mounted PVs for this deployment
         pvs = self.cluster_info.get_pvs()
@@ -89,8 +98,9 @@ class K8sDeployer(Deployer):
 
     def down(self, timeout, volumes):
         # Delete the k8s objects
-        # Destroy the kind cluster
-        destroy_cluster(self.kind_cluster_name)
+        if self.is_kind():
+            # Destroy the kind cluster
+            destroy_cluster(self.kind_cluster_name)
 
     def ps(self):
         self.connect_api()
@@ -124,20 +134,26 @@ class K8sDeployer(Deployer):
         # We need to figure out how to do this -- check why we're being called first
         pass
 
+    def is_kind(self):
+        return self.type == "k8s-kind"
+
 
 class K8sDeployerConfigGenerator(DeployerConfigGenerator):
-    config_file_name: str = "kind-config.yml"
+    type: str
 
-    def __init__(self) -> None:
+    def __init__(self, type: str) -> None:
+        self.type = type
         super().__init__()
 
     def generate(self, deployment_dir: Path):
-        # Check the file isn't already there
-        # Get the config file contents
-        content = generate_kind_config(deployment_dir)
-        if opts.o.debug:
-            print(f"kind config is: {content}")
-        config_file = deployment_dir.joinpath(self.config_file_name)
-        # Write the file
-        with open(config_file, "w") as output_file:
-            output_file.write(content)
+        # No need to do this for the remote k8s case
+        if self.type == "k8s-kind":
+            # Check the file isn't already there
+            # Get the config file contents
+            content = generate_kind_config(deployment_dir)
+            if opts.o.debug:
+                print(f"kind config is: {content}")
+            config_file = deployment_dir.joinpath(constants.kind_config_filename)
+            # Write the file
+            with open(config_file, "w") as output_file:
+                output_file.write(content)
diff --git a/tests/k8s-deploy/run-deploy-test.sh b/tests/k8s-deploy/run-deploy-test.sh
index 91c7890c..b7ee9dd0 100755
--- a/tests/k8s-deploy/run-deploy-test.sh
+++ b/tests/k8s-deploy/run-deploy-test.sh
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ mkdir -p $CERC_REPO_BASE_DIR
 # Test basic stack-orchestrator deploy
 test_deployment_dir=$CERC_REPO_BASE_DIR/test-deployment-dir
 test_deployment_spec=$CERC_REPO_BASE_DIR/test-deployment-spec.yml
-$TEST_TARGET_SO --stack test deploy --deploy-to k8s init --output $test_deployment_spec --config CERC_TEST_PARAM_1=PASSED
+$TEST_TARGET_SO --stack test deploy --deploy-to k8s-kind init --output $test_deployment_spec --config CERC_TEST_PARAM_1=PASSED
 # Check the file now exists
 if [ ! -f "$test_deployment_spec" ]; then
     echo "deploy init test: spec file not present"