Cashmere rises up the north side of the Port Hills above the southern end of Colombo Street. Homes were first built here in the 1890s, and the tram that ran until 1954 helped the suburb become one of the country's more well-to-do areas.
Hundreds of Cashmere houses were damaged by rockfall, landslides and ground cracking in 2010 and 2011, so many have had repairs. Our work here ranges from testing and upgrading older installations to planning cable routes on steep sections for garages, decks and outdoor lighting.
Common Home Types in Cashmere
Cashmere's oldest homes date from the 1890s onwards and may still contain VIR or TRS rubber cable that should be replaced, not extended. Hillside sections often put garages, studios and decks some distance from the house, which means longer cable runs. Many houses were repaired after the earthquakes, so we test the whole installation before adding heat pumps, kitchens or EV chargers.
What Cashmere Conditions Mean for Your Wiring
A GNS report identified 36 areas of mass movement in Cashmere after the quakes, and hillside ground here is prone to rockfall, cliff collapse and landslips. Buried cables on ground that moves can be stretched, so we test them before adding load. The Ōpāwaho / Heathcote River marks the northern edge, where outdoor circuits on low ground should be RCD protected and kept clear of water.
Electrical Services in Cashmere
- Emergency Electrician: Power out, sparks, a burning smell or a breaker that will not reset?
- Electrical Repairs: Tripping RCDs, dead power points, flickering lights and faulty switches traced to the cause and repaired, not just reset.
- Switchboard Upgrades: Old fuse boards replaced with a modern switchboard, circuit breakers and RCD protection, inspected and certified.
- Rewiring: Full and partial rewires for villas, bungalows and older homes, replacing tired rubber-insulated or overloaded wiring.
- Power Points: Extra power points, USB sockets, outdoor weatherproof outlets and new circuits for heat pumps, spa pools and workshops.
- Extractor Fans: Bathroom extractor fans and kitchen rangehoods wired and ducted outside, to move steam and damp out of the house.
- Security Cameras: Home and business security cameras and CCTV, wired or wifi, with recorder setup, outdoor cabling and phone viewing.
- Oven and Cooktop Installation: Ovens, induction cooktops and new kitchen circuits connected safely, including upgrades from gas or older electric hobs.
- Electrical Inspections: Electrical safety inspections and pre-purchase checks with a written report, covering the switchboard, wiring, RCDs and earthing.
- Smoke Alarm Installation: Hard-wired and long-life photoelectric smoke alarms installed in the right places, including rentals that must comply.
- LED Lighting: LED downlights, pendant and feature lighting, dimmers and smart switches, planned around how each room is used.
- Outdoor Lighting: Garden, deck, driveway and security lighting, with sensors and timers, wired safely for the outdoors.
- EV Charger Installation: Home EV chargers installed on a dedicated, properly protected circuit, with a switchboard check and certificate.
- Solar Installation: Solar panel systems and home batteries sized to your power use, installed and connected by licensed electricians.
- Commercial Electrician: Maintenance, fit-outs, lighting upgrades and fault finding for offices, shops, clinics and light industrial sites.
- Test and Tag: Portable appliance testing and tagging for workplaces, with a full register of results for your records.
- Data Cabling: Network and data cabling for homes and offices: Cat6 points, comms cabinets, wifi access points and TV outlets.
Not sure what you need? Read the electrician prices guide or book an electrician in Cashmere.
Working in Cashmere
The 2017 Port Hills fires started on 13 February near Early Valley Road and on Marleys Hill near Dyers Pass, destroyed nine houses and forced hundreds of residents to evacuate.
Hundreds of Cashmere houses were damaged by rockfall, landslides and ground cracking in the 2010 and 2011 Canterbury earthquakes, and a GNS report identified 36 areas of mass movement.
Our electricians are in and around The Old Stone House and Ngaio Marsh House and the rest of Cashmere most weeks.
Electrician Cashmere FAQs
Can you run power to a garage below my Cashmere house?
Yes. We plan the route, depth and mechanical protection for the slope, and size the cable for the distance.
Should I test the wiring in a repaired Cashmere home?
Yes. Repairs after rockfall or ground damage often joined new work to old. An inspection gives you a written report on the board, RCDs and circuits.
Does my older Cashmere home need rewiring?
Only if testing shows it. VIR or TRS rubber cable should be replaced, while sound plastic-sheathed wiring can usually stay.
Can you install outdoor lighting on a hillside section?
Yes. We fit path, step and deck lighting on RCD-protected circuits with sealed fittings, planned around the slope.