Can I change a lightswitch?

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Awrrr
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#3421756 5-Oct-2025 13:48

Here is a suggestion to tide you over: If the lights are flickering it may be a bad connection somewhere, most likely in the switch. This could theoretically start a fire, which I imagine is your concern. If you clearly mark the connections on the switch so you know for certain which wires go where, you can simply disconnect them and cover the exposed ends with electrical tape or a terminal block. This ensures no current can flow through the switch until you are able to replace it.

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Taubin

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#3421757 5-Oct-2025 13:53

That's a good suggestion, I have plenty of electrical tape and things like that. I'll pop round early in the week and do that. Cheers

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acsylaa

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#3421770 5-Oct-2025 15:01

snj: Only time you have to get a licensed electrician for the basic stuff is (if I recall correctly), it's a rental/commercial premise, or you aren't comfortable doing it yourself.

This is fundamentally incorrect. While Section 79 of the Electricity Act 1992 does permit homeowners to carry out a very limited amount of specific electrical work on their own owner-occupied homes, the exemption is extremely narrow and comes with strict requirements. WorkSafe

You can only do work if you:

Own AND live in the property (not rentals, not investment properties)
Follow the work specified in Regulation 79 of the Electricity Safety Regulations 2010
Comply with NZECP 51:2004

The permitted work is essentially limited to replacing like-for-like fixtures (switches, outlets, lights) where no switchboard work is involved, and connecting/disconnecting appliances. Doing your own electrical work | WorkSafe Adding circuits, rewiring, installing new power points - these all require a licensed electrician.

The real-world problem: Even if you technically can do some of this work, you're setting yourself up for issues down the line. Try finding a licensed electrician willing to certify and sign off on electrical work they didn't do - most won't touch it because they're putting their license and liability on the line for someone else's work.

Think of it this way: Just because you own a set of dental tools doesn't mean you should pull your own tooth, or perform surgery on yourself because you watched YouTube videos. Electrical work has the same level of risk - it can kill you, burn your house down, or void your insurance if done incorrectly. There's a reason electricians need years of training and licensing.

Section 79 creates a false sense of capability that can lead to dangerous situations, insurance complications, and property devaluation when work isn't properly certified.

gzt

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#3421773 5-Oct-2025 15:22

For most people I would not recommend leaving live wires in tape. There is a lot that can go wrong with that approach. On the plus side the switch replacement should be straightforward if there is only one switch in the bedroom then that means minimal wiring.

There's something to be said for completing the job. Down the track if the house is put up for sale any non-functional items will create some buyer doubt, lower price, and desire for inspection, delays etc.

On the other hand if there is a reliable local electrician then a single switch replacement now is an easy and quick bread and butter job and there are no lingering questions or doubts.

Handle9

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#3421796 5-Oct-2025 18:27

Gordy7:

A google AI result:

Yes, you are legally allowed to replace an existing light switch in New Zealand as a homeowner, but you must turn off the power first and ensure you are only doing a "like-for-like" replacement

AI fails again.

You are only allowed to do this in a house where you are the owner occupier. It's illegal to do electrical work in someone elses house or a house you do not occupy.

In this case it is clearly illegal.

https://www.worksafe.govt.nz/managing-health-and-safety/consumers/safe-living-with-electricity/getting-electrical-work-done/doing-your-own-electrical-work/

larknz

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#3421806 5-Oct-2025 18:38

That's the problem with homeowner exemption. Flickering lights might just be a loose connection that can be fixed by tightening a screw, but unless you know what you are looking for you could end up spending money you didn't need to spend.

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Taubin

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#3421808 5-Oct-2025 18:43

Yeah it's all become a bit stressful for us. Calling an electrician just for a light switch is going to be yetanotherexpense related to this unexpected event.

So if anyone has any suggestions for an electrician on the north shore that's not going to charge us an arm and a leg for a single light switch, we can't really afford it after all of the other expenses, but I can't in good conscience leave it with no one living in the house.

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#3421809 5-Oct-2025 18:48

SirHumphreyAppleby:

I don't think there is a legal requirement to turn off the power. It'd certainly be wise.

It is a legal requirement for a home owner not to work on live conductors.

It’s incredibly concerning the amount of illegal advice being given in this thread.

Handle9

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#3421810 5-Oct-2025 18:54

Taubin:

Yeah it's all become a bit stressful for us. Calling an electrician just for a light switch is going to be yetanotherexpense related to this unexpected event.

So if anyone has any suggestions for an electrician on the north shore that's not going to charge us an arm and a leg for a single light switch, we can't really afford it after all of the other expenses, but I can't in good conscience leave it with no one living in the house.

If no one is living there at the moment you could just isolate the circuit by switching off the breaker on the switchboard.

Taubin

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#3421813 5-Oct-2025 19:01

Handle9:

Taubin:

Yeah it's all become a bit stressful for us. Calling an electrician just for a light switch is going to be yetanotherexpense related to this unexpected event.

So if anyone has any suggestions for an electrician on the north shore that's not going to charge us an arm and a leg for a single light switch, we can't really afford it after all of the other expenses, but I can't in good conscience leave it with no one living in the house.

If no one is living there at the moment you could just isolate the circuit by switching off the breaker on the switchboard.

There are no breakers on the switchboard, there is a main cutoff which like I said previously I will not be turning off as there is someone entering the home twice a day to feed the cat until we can rehome the bloody thing. Which is just another stress point I don't need in my life at the moment but here we are.

So yes I've heard loud and clear that I cannot change a bloody light switch in this country because whatever reason.

I'll ask again if anyone has a suggestion for an electrician that's not going to charge us a bloody arm and leg to change a SINGLE LIGHT SWITCH because apparently it's illegal for someone to do on their own, please let me know.

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#3421816 5-Oct-2025 19:08

There will be circuit protection and the lighting will be on at least one of the circuits, it may be a fuse instead of a breaker.

The equivalent of switching off the breaker is remove the fuse wire from the carrier and replace the carrier. This is entirely legal

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hsvhel

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#3421820 5-Oct-2025 19:22

It would seem here, the path of least resistance....no pun intended, would be to engage an electrician and be done with it....

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Taubin

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#3421822 5-Oct-2025 19:27

hsvhel:

It would seem here, the path of least resistance....no pun intended, would be to engage an electrician and be done with it....

I mean I literally have asked three times now for suggestions for one. I'm not from this country, I'm extremely stressed and I already stated I would. I just don't want to get ripped off in my grief and have zero clue how much something as simple as changing a single light switch should cost in this country. Hence me reaching out for suggestions

Everything I've googled has only given me things for electricians that want to rewire an entire bloody house, which is precisely what I don't need and can't bloody afford. I have tried numerous times to google for someone that's willing to do a single, simple job, but most aren't going to want to do that. Hence me asking for suggestions. My stress level is through the effing roof right now.

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richms

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#3421823 5-Oct-2025 19:44

Cheap sole trader sparkies will generally be found on facebook in the local pages for the area you are in rather than someone who will be spending a fortune on a web presence and SEO to appear when you google for them.

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Taubin

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#3421831 5-Oct-2025 19:56

I don't use facebook but it's increasingly obvious that I apparently need to in order to get anything done here. Every single agency (other than the humane society who told us to just put the cat down) we contacted about the cat told us they don't "rehome" and to put it on facebook so it's obvious at this point I just need to sell my soul to them in order to deal with the shit we've been dealt.

Mods go ahead and delete this thread. I guess I've gotten my answer.

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