Rewiring an older home is one of the highest-impact upgrades you can carry out. It removes hidden fire hazards, brings the installation up to current New Zealand Electrical (Safety) Regulations 2010, and unlocks today’s power-hungry lifestyle—EV chargers, induction cooking, heat-pump arrays, and whole-home Wi-Fi. Because Palmerston North’s housing stock spans everything from 1920s villas to 1990s brick-and-tiles, the scope, cost, and timeline of a rewire can vary wildly. This 2,500-plus-word guide walks you through:

• Typical pricing ranges and cost drivers
• Realistic project timelines (including how long you’ll be without power)
• Permit and compliance obligations
• Common wiring issues found in Kiwi homes built before 2000
• A room-by-room breakdown of what actually happens during the job

By the end, you’ll know exactly what to budget for, how to schedule the work with minimal disruption, and which questions to ask your electrician before signing a quote.

1. Why Many Palmerston North Homes Need Rewiring

Key red flags prompting a full or partial rewire include:

• VIR (Vulcanised India Rubber) or late-1950s cotton-braided cable — insulation becomes brittle or literally melts at today’s sustained loads.
• Aluminium wiring (1960s–70s) — higher resistance, creep under screw terminals, and a history of oxidation-related fires.
• Lack of RCD protection — modern code requires residual-current devices on virtually every final sub-circuit to prevent fatal shocks.
• Over-fused circuits and doubled-up neutrals — common DIY “upgrades” in rental stock.
• Undersized switchboards — many older boards max out at 40 amps per phase, whereas today’s households can spike to 63 A or more.

Combine these factors with New Zealand’s damp climate—moisture ingress shortens insulation life—and you have a recipe for nuisance tripping at best and hidden wall-cavity fires at worst.

2. Cost Breakdown: What a Rewire Really Costs in 2025

Every electrician prices a little differently, but recent quotes across Manawatū fall into the following ballpark ranges:

2-bed cottage, good access

• Cost: $8,000 – $15,000 (incl. GST)
• Inclusions: New TPS cabling, switchboard upgrade, 12-15 new power points

3-bed 1960s weatherboard

• Cost: $15,000 – $22,000 (incl. GST)
• Inclusions: New wiring, LED light conversion, bathroom extract fans

4-bed 1970s brick, limited roof space

• Cost: $20,000 – $30,000 (incl. GST)
• Inclusions: Rewire, mains upgrade to 63 A, EV-ready sub-board in garage

5-bed plus granny flat, no underfloor access

• Cost: $30,000 – $38,000+ (incl. GST)
• Inclusions: Full rewire, additional circuits, data cabling, hard-wired smoke alarms

Key Cost Drivers

1. Access — clear ceiling cavities and under-floor crawl spaces can shave 20–30% off labour.
2. Switchboard & mains upgrade — allow $2,000–$4,000 for a modern recessed board with RCCBs and RCBOs.
3. Number of points & extras — USB outlets, outdoor sockets, smart-home or data cabling add $70–$150 per point.
4. Wall linings — plasterboard can often be “fish-taped”; solid rimu sarking or fibrous plaster often means selective gib removal.
5. Regional inspection fees — Manawatū-Whanganui Lines Company charges ~$200 for livening a new service.

3. Timeline: From First Quote to Final Power-On

Lead time for reputable sparkies is currently 4–8 weeks. Once the job kicks off, a typical three-bedroom rewire follows this sequence:

1. Power shut-down & safety check (½ day)
2. Demolition & cable fishing (2–4 days)
3. Switchboard swap-out (1 day)
4. Room-by-room termination (2–5 days depending on house size)
5. Compliance testing & RoI/CoC (½ day)
6. Lines company re-liven (scheduled next business day)
7. Patch & paint (by owner or builder)

Total “in-the-dark” downtime is usually 1–2 days; after the switchboard is energised you’ll have power in stages while each circuit is finalised.

4. Permit, Inspection & Compliance Obligations

In New Zealand, rewiring work does not usually need a building consent unless it triggers structural changes. However, it must be undertaken or directly supervised by a licensed Electrical Worker (EW) and signed off with:

• Certificate of Compliance (CoC)
• Record of Inspection (RoI)
• Electrical Safety Certificate
• Lines company “liven” approval

DIY wiring is illegal except for very low-risk items. Insurance claims can be voided if work lacks the correct paperwork.

5. Room-by-Room Walk-Through: What Actually Happens

Bedrooms & Living Areas

• Old skirting sockets removed
• At least two double power points per bedroom; four to six in living rooms
• Cat-6 data cabling and TV coax run simultaneously

Kitchen

• Dedicated oven circuit (32 A) and cooktop circuit
• Two dedicated small-appliance circuits on 20 A RCBOs
• Isolated switches for dishwasher, waste disposer, and extraction

Bathroom & Laundry

• RCD-protected circuits
• IP-rated down-lights and exhaust fans
• Heated-towel rail on timer
• Laundry: 20 A washer circuit, separate 16 A for dryer

Hallways & Smoke-Alarms

• Interlinked photo-electric smoke alarms
• One alarm per ≤ 60 m² floor area

Garage & Exterior

• Sub-board if EV charger or tools exceed 40 A
• IP-rated outlets for spa, heat-pump, outdoor kitchens
• Earthing stakes tested (< 2 Ω target)

6. Common Wiring Issues Found in NZ Homes

• Perished VIR cable
• Aluminium branch circuits
• Re-purposed neutral bar as earth
• Asbestos backing boards
• Unbonded metal plumbing

7. Future-Proofing & Energy-Efficiency Upgrades

• LED down-lights
• Smart-home wiring
• EV-ready conduit
• Solar PV provisions

8. Choosing the Right Electrician in Palmerston North

Look for:

1. EWRB registration
2. Transparent itemised quote
3. Fixed-price vs charge-up clarity
4. References
5. Warranty (2+ years workmanship)

9. Frequently Asked Questions

• How long? 5–7 days for typical 3-bed home
• Do I need to move out? Not always
• Will my walls be destroyed? Only selective holes
• Can I DIY? Only wall prep/access
• Are there finance options? Yes—GEM, bank top-ups

10. The Bottom Line

Rewiring is a major but worthwhile investment. Budget $15k–$22k for an average Palmerston North home. Allow a week of onsite work, and insist on proper CoC/RoI paperwork. The result: a safer, modern home ready for the next 20+ years.