There is some electrical work you can do in your own home. However, it is crucial you are appropriately skilled and understand exactly what the work you are carrying out will entail.

WorkSafe does not recommend that you do any of your own electrical work unless you have the necessary skills and knowledge. However, as a member of the public, the law allows you to carry out some of your own electrical work. 

If you do want to do some of your own electrical work it is important that you read the following information carefully.

Never do any electrical work unless you are sure you have the skills and knowledge to do the job safely and legally. Accidents, and sometimes fatalities, can occur because people do not know what they are doing. Electrical work can be unsafe and illegal if it’s not done properly.

WorkSafe recommends that if you are in any doubt about doing any electrical work in your home you must use a licensed worker.

The following information is intended only as a guide and provides information on the minimum legal safety requirements for doing your own electrical work safely and legally. Neither this information nor the Electrical Codes of Practice are do-it yourself guides or manuals. Knowledge and skills are essential.

Before getting started

Before you do any work, make sure that:

• you have the necessary knowledge and skills
• the power is turned off
• you are not working where conductors or terminals are live or could become live. 

For more detail on how you can go about doing your own electrical work safely and legally, please see the:

• Electricity Act 1992 section 79(external link) defines who exactly can do electrical work listed in regulation 6A of the Electricity Safety Regulations 2010.
• NZECP 50: 2004 New Zealand Electrical Code of Practice for Repair and Maintenance of Domestic Electrical Appliances by the Owner of the Appliance.
• Electricity Act 1992 Section 80(external link) defines who exactly can do electrical work listed in regulation 79 of the Electricity Safety Regulations 2010.
• NZECP 51: 2004 New Zealand Electrical Code of Practice for Homeowner/Occupier’s Electrical Wiring Work in Domestic Installations.

What electrical work can I do?

You must own and live in the property to do the following work on low voltage electrical installations when there is no payment or reward:

• Remove and replace any of the following kinds of fittings, where the work does not involve work on any switchboard:
  • switches
  • socket outlets
  • permanent connection units
  • light fittings
  • batten holders
  • cord grip lampholders
  • ceiling roses
  • flexible cords connected to any permanent connection unit, ceiling rose, or cord grip lampholder
  • water heater switches
  • thermostats
• elements.
• Remove and replace fuse links.
• Connect and disconnect fixed wired appliances.
• Relocate existing switches, socket outlets, and lighting outlets that are supplied with electricity by tough plastic- sheathed cables.
• Install, extend, and alter sub-circuits (including sub-mains), provided that you:
• must not enter (whether personally, by holding any material or equipment, or otherwise) any enclosure where live active conductors are likely to be present
• cannot connect your work to the electricity supply yourself
• must get the finished work tested and connected by a licensed electrical inspector who will verify the safety of the completed work before connecting it. It is advisable to have consulted the inspector prior to starting any installation, extension, or alterations.

You can repair an appliance, but:

• you, or a close relative, must own it
• it must be for use by you or a close relative
• it must not be for commercial or industrial use
• the work must be carried out in accordance with the requirements of ECP 50.

What are the main electrical repairs you can do yourself at your home?

For a full list of the electrical repairs you can do on your home, please refer to Regulation 57 of the Electricity (Safety) Regulations 2010(external link).

The work you can do includes:

• Replacing switches; socket outlets, lamp holders, ceiling roses, water heater switches, thermostats and elements
• Repairing light fittings
• Moving, repairing or replacing flexible cords that are permanently connected to outlets or ceiling roses
• Disconnecting and reconnecting permanently wired appliances
• Moving switches, sockets and lighting outlets, but only if they are wired with tough plastic-sheathed cables
• Installing, extending, or altering any cables, except the main cables that come from the street to your switchboard
• Fitting plugs, cord extension sockets or appliance connectors to a flexible cord
• Replacing fuse wires and fuse cartridges

Doing your own wiring

When doing work on wiring in your home, you must:

• Make sure that the power is switched off before you start.
• Ensure that you do not work in any enclosure where conductors or terminals are live or could become live.
• Ensure that if you install, extend or alter cables, you do not connect your work to the electricity supply yourself.  The finished job must be checked and tested by a licensed electrical inspector.  If it complies with safety requirements, the inspector will connect it, test it, and issue you with a Certificate of Compliance.

Never do any work on a switchboard apart from replacing fuse wire or fuse cartridges.  

What if something goes wrong?

If you are unsure about anything or think that you might have made a mistake, make sure that the main switch is turned off, and call a licensed electrician to check your work and correct it if necessary. If you do work that is unsafe you could seriously injure yourself or a member of your family and you could be prosecuted.

To check if your electrician is licensed visit the Electrical Workers' Register(external link)