A switchboard upgrade in NZ typically costs about $1,500 to $5,000, depending on which source you read. A full house rewire is about $10,000 to $25,000 (Call A Tradie NZ, 2026), with CheckMyBuilder giving a typical figure of $22,000 (May 2026).
These are estimates from price guides, not quotes. Most state they exclude GST unless stated, and a rewire is hard to price without someone looking at the house.
The quick answer
| Job | Typical NZ price | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Electrician hourly rate | $75 to $130 per hour, excluding GST and materials | Call A Tradie NZ, 2026 |
| Switchboard upgrade | $2,500 to $5,000, excluding GST unless stated | Call A Tradie NZ, 2026 |
| Switchboard upgrade (old fuse board to RCD and circuit breaker board) | $1,500 to $4,000, excluding GST unless stated | CheckMyBuilder, 2026 |
| Switchboard upgrade, Auckland | $1,500 to $3,500 plus GST | Endeavour Property Services, page dated 2024 |
| Full house rewire | $10,000 to $25,000, excluding GST unless stated | Call A Tradie NZ, 2026 |
| Rewire, small 2 to 3 bedroom house, new switchboard | $9,000 to $18,000, excluding GST unless stated | CheckMyBuilder, 2026 |
| Rewire, standard 3 to 4 bedroom house | $18,000 to $32,000, excluding GST unless stated | CheckMyBuilder, 2026 |
Call A Tradie NZ and CheckMyBuilder are vendor and marketplace guides. Endeavour is a single Auckland company quoting its own prices. The three disagree on the switchboard price, so a quote from a licensed electrician who has seen your board matters more than any average.
What changes the price
Access. CheckMyBuilder says easy open framing during a renovation is cheaper, while intact walls and ceilings add 15% to 30% because cables have to be fished through cavities.
Number of points. More power points, switches and lights mean more cable, boxes and labour.
Switchboard. CheckMyBuilder lists $1,500 to $4,000 for replacing an old fuse board with a modern RCD and circuit breaker board, either on its own or as part of a rewire.
Extra circuits. CheckMyBuilder says dedicated circuits for an EV charger, heat pump or electric oven can add $2,000 to $15,000 on a premium rewire.
Making good. CheckMyBuilder says patching, plastering and repainting after cables run through the walls is usually extra, at $2,000 to $6,000. Its guide also lists lighting fixtures, data cabling and EV chargers as usually extra, and puts a typical rewire at 5 to 21 days.
Region. CheckMyBuilder gives indicative rewire figures of $25,000 for Auckland, $23,000 for Wellington, $21,000 for Christchurch and Hamilton, $22,000 for Tauranga and $20,000 for regional NZ.
Signs old wiring needs replacing
WorkSafe says the warning signs that the wiring in your home is becoming dangerous include:
- plugs and sockets that are hot to the touch, or have brown scorch marks on them
- fuses that blow and circuit breakers that trip for no reason
- flickering lights
WorkSafe says these signs may mean the wiring needs upgrading, and that you should have a licensed electrician or electrical inspector check it. They can tell you whether repairs are needed and estimate the cost. It also advises this check when buying a house.
CheckMyBuilder adds that houses from before the 1970s on original wiring usually need a rewire, as old insulation degrades and there may be no earthing or RCD protection. It says homes from the 1980s and 1990s with rubber-insulated wiring may also benefit, and that post-2000 houses rarely need a full rewire. That is a vendor view, not an official rule, and an electrician should look at what is actually in your walls.
WorkSafe also says that if a fuse keeps blowing you should call a licensed worker. Where possible, it suggests replacing fuses with plug-in circuit breakers of the same rating.
A worked example
Using the figures above, take a 3 to 4 bedroom house, partly accessible, needing a full rewire.
- Rewire, standard 3 to 4 bedroom house with a new switchboard: $18,000 to $32,000 (CheckMyBuilder).
- Making good plaster and paint: $2,000 to $6,000 extra (CheckMyBuilder).
- Total range: $18,000 + $2,000 = $20,000, up to $32,000 + $6,000 = $38,000, all excluding GST.
Call A Tradie NZ’s $10,000 to $25,000 range for the whole job sits well below that. That gap is why you need the electrician to see the house before you commit.
For a switchboard only, the ranges overlap between $1,500 and $5,000. A basic board in a small house is likely near the bottom. A bigger home, three-phase supply or extra circuits push you up.
Rules, licences and certificates
Who can do the work. WorkSafe says any person other than a homeowner who carries out prescribed electrical work must be registered by the Electrical Workers Registration Board (EWRB). Anyone doing electrical work for payment must hold an annual practising licence. Ask to see it and check the expiry date. The EWRB says to ask for the licence ID and check the Electrical Workers Public Register. If you have a complaint, WorkSafe says to raise it with the electrician first, then the EWRB on 0800 66 10 00.
Certificate of Compliance (CoC). WorkSafe says electricians must issue one for any fixed wiring work, including fitting new power points. It is not issued for maintenance, such as replacing sockets and light fittings. It shows the work was done by a licensed electrician, meets the safety standards and has been tested. Keep it, as WorkSafe says it may be needed for insurance claims or when selling.
Electrical Safety Certificate (ESC). WorkSafe publishes templates for both a CoC and an ESC, and Auckland Council says you should receive both after a heat pump install. Which certificates apply depends on the work, so ask your electrician which ones you will get.
Inspection. WorkSafe says the law requires some work to be inspected, particularly work on the main switchboard, the main cable and the main earth. The electrician arranges for a licensed electrical inspector, and you should keep the inspection report with your CoCs.
Building consent. CheckMyBuilder says rewiring an existing house doesn’t usually need a building consent, though new structural penetrations or major changes may. Check with your council if the job involves more than the wiring.
What you may do yourself
WorkSafe says the law allows homeowners limited electrical work, but does not recommend it unless you have the skills. You must own and live in the property, and there must be no payment or reward. You may:
- replace switches, socket outlets, light fittings, ceiling roses, water heater switches, thermostats and elements, as long as it does not involve work on a switchboard
- replace fuse links, and connect and disconnect fixed-wired appliances
- install, extend and alter subcircuits, if you never enter an enclosure where live conductors are likely to be present, do not connect the work to the supply yourself, and have a licensed electrical inspector test and connect it
WorkSafe is clear on the switchboard: never do any work on it apart from replacing fuse wire or fuse cartridges. Landlords and tenants cannot do electrical work in a rented property unless they are registered and licensed. CheckMyBuilder says almost all rewire work is prescribed electrical work that needs a licensed electrician.
Questions to ask before you say yes
- Can I see your practising licence and licence ID?
- Is this a fixed price or an estimate, and does it include GST, materials and the switchboard?
- What could push the price up once you open the walls and ceiling?
- Who makes good the plaster and paint?
- Will I get a Certificate of Compliance, and any inspection report for the switchboard?
- How long will the power be off, and will I be staying in the house?
- What is the warranty on the work?
How GoodTradie helps
GoodTradie is free for homeowners. You type the job, we call you, find one local electrician, check their licence on the EWRB register, and book them in. We do not send your job to several tradies. We also compare the quote against published NZ figures like the ones above. That is a guide, not a guarantee of the best price. Type your job into the box at the top of the page to get started.
Sources
- Call A Tradie NZ, how much do tradies charge, 2026
- CheckMyBuilder, house rewire cost, updated May 2026
- Endeavour Property Services, switchboard upgrades (page dated 2024)
- WorkSafe, Getting electrical work done (last updated 4 September 2017)
- WorkSafe, Doing your own electrical work (page undated)
- WorkSafe, Electrical wiring in your home (page undated)
- WorkSafe, Electrical certification and record of inspection templates (page undated)
- Electrical Workers Registration Board, why use a registered electrical worker (page undated)
- Auckland Council, Install a heat pump (page undated)
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