Choosing an electrician comes down to four checks: the licence, the price in writing, the questions you ask and the certificate at the end. Electrical work can look fine on the surface even when it hides a serious problem, according to the Electrical Workers Registration Board (EWRB).
This is general information, not legal advice.
The short version
- Ask to see their licence ID and check the expiry date and photo.
- Search the Electrical Workers Public Register.
- Check the registration class fits the work.
- Get a detailed written quote, not a verbal estimate.
- Ask which certificate you will get and when.
- Ask who is doing the work, and who supervises if it is a trainee.
- Keep the certificates with your house records.
Check the licence
The EWRB says to always ask to see the licence ID, which can be physical or digital. It is proof the worker is currently competent to do electrical work safely. Check it has not expired and the photo matches the person. Then search the Electrical Workers Public Register to check the licence has not been suspended. If they show a digital licence, you can scan its QR code to go straight to their profile.
The licence lists the worker’s registration classes, which define the electrical work they are licensed to do. The EWRB points to the Electricity (Prescribed Classes of Registration for Electrical Workers) Notice 2023 for the scope of each class. Practising licences show an expiry date.
The EWRB says only registered, licensed workers can carry out or supervise prescribed electrical work, such as installing, maintaining and testing electrical fittings, working on installations and appliances, and restoring power after a fault. It warns that work by someone not properly licensed can hide a serious problem and cause trouble with an insurance claim.
Our guide to checking an electrician is registered covers the register in more detail.
Get it in writing
Consumer Protection says a quote is generally a confirmed maximum price and an estimate is not a fixed price. Estimates should generally be within 10 to 15 percent. After you accept a quote, the business cannot charge more unless you agree to extra work or the scope changes while the job is underway. It suggests getting quotes or estimates from at least three businesses if you can, and not paying more than 10 percent of the total cost as a deposit.
Some electrical jobs fall under the Building Act too. MBIE’s prescribed checklist says a building contractor can be a plumber, an electrician or any other tradesperson dealing with you directly. If the building work will cost $30,000 or more including GST, you must get a written contract, plus the consumer protection standard checklist and a disclosure statement before you sign. Most electrical jobs are well under that line, so ask for a detailed written quote showing the scope, materials, GST and payment terms.
Why the paperwork matters
The EWRB says a Certificate of Compliance confirms fixed wiring work was tested, and that electrical work can look fine on the surface even when something serious sits behind it. Risks it names include electric shock, fire and serious damage to your home. It also says unlicensed work can cause trouble if you later make an insurance claim. Ask for the certificate before you make the final payment, and file it with your house records. If an electrician cannot or will not give you the paperwork, raise it with them straight away.
Questions to ask before you say yes
- Can I see your licence ID and is it current?
- Is your registration class right for this job?
- Who will do the work? If it is a trainee, who supervises?
- Is this price a quote or an estimate? Does it include GST?
- What happens if you find a problem once the wall or ceiling is open?
- Which certificate will I get, and by when?
- Does the work need an inspection, and who arranges it?
- What guarantee do you give?
Red flags
These are reasons to stop and check. None proves a problem on its own.
- They cannot show a licence ID, or the name does not match the register.
- The licence is expired, suspended or in a class that does not fit the job.
- They say you will not need a certificate for fixed wiring work.
- They offer to skip paperwork for a lower price.
- A verbal price only, or a large deposit.
- They will not say who is supervising a trainee.
Your rights if it goes wrong
Certificates. The EWRB says electrical workers must issue a Certificate of Compliance for any fixed wiring work. It is not issued for maintenance such as replacing sockets and light fittings. Certification must come no later than 20 days after completing the work. For inspected work, your electrical worker arranges a licensed electrical inspector.
Consumer Guarantees Act. Consumer Protection lists four service guarantees: reasonable care and skill, fit for purpose, a reasonable time, and a reasonable price where none was agreed. If a problem can be fixed and the business refuses or delays, you can have it fixed elsewhere and claim the cost, or cancel. For serious failures you can cancel and refuse to pay for the work. You can claim for further loss caused by the failure.
EWRB complaints. The EWRB suggests discussing the problem with the electrical worker or company first. It handles complaints about prescribed electrical work, and reports of unlicensed prescribed electrical work. The EWRB’s licence page says you can also report someone who falsely claims to be licensed or an employer who engages an unlicensed person.
Disputes Tribunal. The Disputes Tribunal handles small claims up to $60,000, including poor tradework and disputed charges. Fees depend on the claim amount.
How GoodTradie helps
GoodTradie is a free service for homeowners. When you send us an electrical job, we look the electrician up on the EWRB register before we book them, and we send you one tradie, not several. They give you their own quote and we check it against published NZ figures. That is a guide, not a guarantee. You can run the register check yourself too. Type your job into the box at the top of the page.
Sources
- EWRB, About licences (page undated, copyright 2026)
- EWRB, Why use a registered electrical worker (page undated, copyright 2026)
- EWRB, Documentation from your electrical worker (page undated, copyright 2026)
- EWRB, Complaints (page undated, copyright 2026)
- Consumer Protection, Quotes and estimates (page undated)
- Consumer Protection, Consumer Guarantees Act (page undated)
- Consumer Protection, Poor quality or incomplete work (page undated)
- MBIE, Prescribed checklist (BP 9817, September 2023)
- Disputes Tribunal, What the Tribunal can help with (last updated 20 August 2026)
Need a electrician? See how we find and check one, or type the job in the box at the top.