Regulations & Consent For Solar Power in NZ
Grid-connected solar power systems must comply with local lines companies, along with NZ electrical standards and local council regulations. The council will look at certain installation and electrical safety requirements. Solar power systems can overload power lines; it is lines companies that make sure this doesn't happen.
Do solar power systems in NZ need council consent?
Some council’s in New Zealand require consent applications.
Building or resource consent is a bit of a grey area as the Building Act of 2004 exempts energy work from requiring a building consent. Some New Zealand solar installation companies suggest that there is no need for anyone in New Zealand to get council consent. Be cautious, you may wish to call your local council or ask your installer to find out the councils exact requirements.
Some council’s do not differentiate between solar power and solar hot water systems. You might be forced to fill out an application for solar hot water consent… it happens!
Heritage-listed buildings may require a resource consent and strict zones may also require consent.
Solar Power Council Consent Requirements and Fees Around New Zealand
| District Council | Consent Requirement |
| Auckland Council | No consent required (unless you are in a heritage zone or if the solar panels affect height-to-boundary restrictions.) |
| Christchurch City Council | No consent required. |
| Dunedin City Council | No consent required. |
| Gisborne City Council | Yes, applied through the minor building consent form. |
| Hamilton City Council | Building consent is required – No fees |
| Hastings District Council | No consent required. |
| Invercargill Council | No consent required. |
| Manawatu District Council | No consent required. |
| Nelson City Council | No consent required. |
| Napier City Council | No consent required. |
| Porirua City Council | No consent required. |
| Tauranga City Council | No consent required. |
| Wellington City Council | No consent required. |
| Waikato District Council | Yes, (the fee is to be confirmed) |
| Western Bay of Plenty Council | No consent required. |
Lines Company Regulations
All lines companies require consents. If you are going to be exporting solar power to their power lines, then they need to know!
They want to make sure that the technical specifications of your system meet their prerequisites.
Lines companies on occasion reject grid connection requests based on the size of the system. Often, this will be resolved by installing a smaller system or installing a zero export device.
To find lines companies requirements, and applications forms for each area of New Zealand, please see the list below;
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Lines Company Name and Link to their DG Page |
Districts Serviced |
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Geraldine, Temuka, Pleasant Point, Timaru, Twizel, Waimate |
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Dunedin, Alexandra, Cromwell, Queenstown, Arrowtown, Wanaka |
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Westport |
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Waipawa, Waipukurau |
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Auckland (southern Papakura and Drury only), Pukekohe, Waiuku |
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Gisborne, Wairoa |
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Foxton, Shannon, Levin, Otaki, Kapiti |
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Ashburton |
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Invercargill (inner suburbs), Bluff |
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Kawerau, Murupara, Edgecumbe, Whakatane, Opotiki |
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Otorohanga, Te Kuiti, Mangakino, Taumarunui, Turangi, Ohakune |
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Kaikoura, Hanmer Springs, Oxford, Rangiora, Woodend, Kaiapoi |
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Blenheim, Picton |
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Nelson (CBD) |
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Takaka, Motueka, Nelson (suburbs), Brightwater, Wakefield |
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Oamaru |
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Whangarei, Dargaville |
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Christchurch, Lincoln, Rolleston, Darfield, Leeston |
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Milton, Balclutha |
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Gore, Te Anau, Winton, Riverton, Invercargill (outer suburbs) |
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Coromandel, Whitianga, Tairua, Thames, Whangamata, Paeroa, Waihi, Waihi Beach, Te Aroha, Morrinsville, Matamata, Putaruru, Tokoroa, Katikati, Tauranga, Te Puke, Waitara, New Plymouth, Inglewood, Stratford, Eltham, Opunake, Manaia, Hawera, Patea, Wanganui, Raetihi, Waiouru, Taihape, Marton, Bulls, Feilding, Palmerston North, Pahiatua, Masterton, Carterton, Greytown, Featherston, Martinborough |
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Dannevirke, Woodville |
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Taipa Bay-Mangonui, Kaitaia, Kerikeri, Russell, Paihia, Kawakawa, Moerewa, Kaikohe |
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Rotorua, Taupo, Napier, Hastings |
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Wellsford, Warkworth, Snells Beach, Helensville, Waiheke Island, Auckland (excluding southern Papakura and Drury) |
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Cambridge, Te Awamutu |
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Huntly, Raglan, Hamilton |
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Wellington, Porirua, Lower Hutt, Upper Hutt |
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Reefton, Greymouth, Hokitika |
Electrical Standards
There are several standards in which grid connect solar power systems must comply;
- AS 4777.1:2005 Grid connection of energy systems via inverters.
- AS/NZS 5033:2012 Installation and safety requirements of Photovoltaic (PV) arrays.
- AS/NZS 3000:2007 Wiring rules.
Off-grid solar power systems must comply with;
- AS/NZS 4509
Battery installations must comply with;
- AS 4086
- NZS 4219
