Rewiring means replacing the cables that run from the switchboard to every socket, switch and light. In Christchurch it matters most in the older stock: weatherboard bungalows with brick or roughcast bases, heavier pre-1970s brick and block veneer houses, and the older houses of suburbs such as Merivale, St Albans and Linwood, where original rubber insulated cable may still be hiding under the floor or in the ceiling.
A rewire is a bigger job than a board swap, but it does not have to mean stripping the house. Below we cover how to tell whether you need one, full versus partial rewires, how earthquake repairs change the picture, and what drives the price. The board itself is covered on our switchboard upgrades page.
Pricing: a free quote and a fixed price agreed before we start. You get a written, itemised quote, and small jobs can be quoted from photos.
If the fuse box or switchboard is the problem rather than the cables, see switchboard upgrades.
Why old wiring is replaced
Early New Zealand homes were wired with Vulcanised Indian Rubber (VIR) cable and later Tough Rubber Sheathed (TRS) cable. As the rubber ages it hardens and crumbles, which can leave live conductors exposed and raises the fire risk. Cable in that state should be replaced rather than extended, and some insurers may decline cover where wiring is old or unfit.
WorkSafe points out that installations in older homes were never designed for the number of appliances we run today. Its warning signs include hot or scorched plugs and sockets, fuses that blow or breakers that trip for no reason, and flickering lights. In a Christchurch winter, with heaters and heat pumps working hard, those signs tend to show up first.
- Black rubber cable in the ceiling space or under the floor
- Original switches and sockets that have never been changed
- Fuses that keep blowing
- Sockets or fittings that run warm
- An insurer or buyer asking about the wiring
Earthquake repairs and your wiring
About 67,000 Canterbury homes went through the Canterbury Home Repair Programme after the 2010 and 2011 quakes, and many more were repaired privately or rebuilt. A repaired house may have new linings in some rooms and original cable in others, or circuits that were disconnected and reconnected while floors, walls or ceilings were fixed.
That does not mean a repaired house has a wiring problem. It does mean the wiring history is often patchy, so testing is the only reliable way to know what you have. If you are buying a repaired home, or relining rooms now, it is the ideal moment to find out which circuits are original and which are new.
How It Works
Full or partial rewire?
Not every house needs everything replaced. Many Christchurch homes have a kitchen, bathroom or extension wired in modern TPS cable while the rest is original. Testing shows which circuits are sound, so we can quote a partial rewire of the old ones, such as the lighting only, where that is safe and sensible.
A full rewire usually wins when most circuits are rubber cable, when the board is also due for replacement, or when you are renovating and the linings are already off. Where both options are reasonable, we give you both in writing.
How we work in older homes
Lath and plaster, sarking, brick veneer and solid internal walls all need different approaches. Where we can, we drop cable down cavities from the ceiling space or feed it up from under the floor, lifting scotia or skirting rather than cutting into plaster. On concrete slab extensions and brick walls we may use neat surface channels. Any access holes are small and placed where a plasterer can patch them easily.
We work circuit by circuit, so most of the house has power, and heating, at the end of each day. Old cable is disconnected and made safe, or removed where it is reachable. Before we start, we walk through with you and agree positions for any new power points and lights, because adding them during a rewire costs far less than later.
Rewiring during a renovation
The cheapest time to rewire is when the walls are open. Bring us in at the planning stage so cable routes, switch positions, kitchen and heating circuits and lighting are settled before the builder closes up. We coordinate with your builder for pre-wire and fit-off, and if the renovation needs a building consent, the Code Compliance Certificate comes from the right council: Christchurch City Council, Selwyn District Council or Waimakariri District Council.
New work must meet the electrical standard cited in law. WorkSafe says that where construction starts after 12 November 2026, new and altered work must comply with AS/NZS 3000:2018, while untouched parts of an installation do not have to be upgraded.
Testing, certificates and price
Every new circuit is tested for insulation resistance, polarity, earthing and RCD operation before it goes live. You receive a Certificate of Compliance and an Electrical Safety Certificate, and if the job includes the main switchboard or main earth, a licensed electrical inspector checks that part too. WorkSafe advises keeping your certificate safe for insurance claims and for when you sell.
The price depends on the size of the house, the number of circuits and points, underfloor and ceiling access, wall construction, and whether the board is replaced at the same time. We test first, then give you a written, itemised fixed price. If it takes us longer than planned, that is our cost. Book an assessment to get started.
Why Choose Cheeky's Electrical for Rewiring
Test before we quote
We find out which circuits are original and which are sound, so you only pay for what needs replacing.
Careful with older homes
Routes through ceilings and floors first, small tidy access holes, and respect for original linings.
Heat back on each evening
Circuit by circuit, with power and heating restored at the end of the day wherever possible.
Builder friendly
We work to your builder's programme for pre-wire and fit-off, so the job is not held up.
Rewiring FAQs
How do I know if my house has rubber wiring?
Look in the ceiling space or under the floor for black, rubber covered cable, common in older bungalows and cottages. We can confirm it with a quick inspection and insulation test.
My house was repaired after the earthquakes. Does it need rewiring?
Not necessarily. Repairs often left a mix of new and original circuits. Testing tells us which is which before anything is quoted.
Can I stay in the house during a rewire?
Usually, yes. We work circuit by circuit and restore power at the end of each day where possible, which matters in winter.
Will you have to cut into the walls?
Some small access holes are usually needed, but we use the ceiling and floor first and place holes where they are easy to patch.
Is there a law that says I must rewire?
No. Existing installations can continue as long as they are not unsafe. Rubber cable that is breaking down is unsafe, which is why we recommend replacing it.
Should the switchboard be done at the same time?
Often it makes sense, especially if the board has fuses or no RCDs. We price it as an option.
Rewiring Across Christchurch
We cover every region: Central Christchurch, North Christchurch, East and Coastal Christchurch, South Christchurch and Port Hills, West Christchurch, Selwyn and Waimakariri.
Related Electrical Services
Rewiring Guides
See the electrician prices guide or every service we offer.
Sources and further reading
- WorkSafe: Electrical wiring in your home
- WorkSafe: Getting electrical work done
- WorkSafe: Changes to Electricity Safety Regulations for electrical installations (19 December 2025)
- WorkSafe Queensland: Deteriorated wiring and cabling in older installations
- Natural Hazards Commission: Canterbury Home Repair Programme
- BuildingGuide: NZ house types (bungalows)
- eBOSS: Heavier pre-1970s Canterbury houses and quake damage