The Guru: New Zealand electrical regulations, in plain language

Ask The Guru an electrical compliance question in ordinary words, and it tells you which rule applies, where that rule sits, and how it got there. It is free, it is on this page, and you do not need an account.

Who it is for

Electricians and inspectors

You are on site, the question is a clause question, and your standards are in the van. Ask The Guru, get the clause number and the principle behind it, then check your own copy when you are back at the desk.

Homeowners, buyers and landlords

Someone has told you your switchboard is not compliant, or your insurer has asked for a certificate. The Guru tells you what the rules actually require, before you spend anything.

What it answers

The Guru works from New Zealand's electrical rules: the Electricity (Safety) Regulations 2010 and AS/NZS 3000:2018, the Wiring Rules, along with the related standards those two point to. Solar and battery questions are covered as well, through AS/NZS 5033, AS/NZS 4777 and AS/NZS 5139.

Questions it handles well:

• Which certificate a piece of work needs, and who is allowed to issue it.
• Whether a job counts as high-risk work under regulation 6A, and so needs an inspector.
• RCD requirements on new and altered circuits.
• Clearances, cable sizing and voltage drop, and what each figure depends on.
• What has to be tested, recorded and handed over at the end of a job.

What it will not do

The Guru will not reproduce the wording of a standard. Standards are copyright, so it names the clause and explains it in its own words. For the exact text, open your own licensed copy through the EWRB platform or Standards NZ.

It will not rule on a genuinely borderline case either. On those it says so plainly, and tells you to confirm with a registered electrician or inspector.

The Guru is an AI assistant. It is a fast way to find the right rule. It is not advice from a registered person, and it is not a certificate.

If the answer is that you need a certificate

That is the part eCertify does. We are registered, fully qualified electricians and inspectors, working right across Auckland. See our fixed prices and book online, or get in touch and we will work out exactly what you need.