Our Most Commonly Asked Questions
About WireWise
Where does WireWise work in Northland? +
We're based in Whangarei and cover all of Northland — from the Far North down to Wellsford, and everywhere in between including Kerikeri, Kaitaia, Dargaville, Mangawhai, and rural properties throughout the region. If you're unsure whether we cover your area, just give us a call and we'll let you know.
Are you a licensed and registered electrician? +
Yes — WireWise is a licensed electrical contracting business and all electrical work is carried out by registered electricians. We are also IQP registered for automatic sliding doors and an official certified Control4 dealer. You can ask us for our licence details at any time.
Do you offer free quotes? +
Yes. For smaller jobs we can often quote over the phone or via email. For larger projects — new builds, smart home systems, solar installations, security systems, or commercial work — we do a free on-site visit first so we can properly understand the scope before quoting. There is never any obligation to proceed.
Can you handle the full job or do I need multiple trades? +
For electrical, smart home, AV, security and solar — we handle everything ourselves. We're qualified electricians and certified Control4 dealers, so the wiring and the technology are designed and installed by the same person. For new builds we work alongside builders and other trades, but manage our own scope end to end with no subcontracting.
Do you work on commercial properties as well as residential? +
Yes — we work on homes, businesses, rural properties, and new builds across Northland. We carry out commercial electrical fit-outs, security and CCTV for businesses, commercial solar installations, and access control systems. We are also IQP registered, which is required for inspection and maintenance of certain commercial automatic door systems.
Electrical
What types of electrical work do you do? +
We cover the full range — new build wiring, renovations, switchboard upgrades and replacements, lighting design and installation, EV charger installation, heat pump and air conditioning wiring, solar connections, generator changeover systems, gate and door automation wiring, and commercial fit-outs including test and tag. If you have a job in mind, get in touch and we'll let you know if it falls within our scope.
Do you do small jobs as well as large ones? +
Yes — we don't have a minimum job size. Whether you need a new power point, a ceiling fan wired, or a full new build fit-out, we're happy to help. That said, we're based in Whangarei and cover all of Northland, so call-out time for very small jobs in remote areas will factor into the cost.
Can you pre-wire a new build for smart home automation? +
Yes — and this is one of the most cost-effective things you can do during a new build. Pre-wiring for smart home at the construction stage costs a fraction of what it would to retrofit later. We work with builders and architects from the planning stage to make sure the right infrastructure is in place from the start, whether you want to activate it immediately or down the track.
How do I know if my switchboard needs upgrading? +
Signs that your switchboard may need attention include: frequently tripping circuits, a switchboard that still has rewireable fuses rather than modern circuit breakers, no RCD (residual current device) protection, or if you're adding significant new loads like an EV charger or solar system. If you're unsure, we can inspect it and give you an honest assessment — it doesn't always need replacing.
Do you install EV chargers? +
Yes — we supply and install home and workplace EV chargers for all major vehicle brands. We check your switchboard load capacity, select the right charger for your vehicle and usage, and carry out the full installation including any required switchboard upgrades. If you have solar, we can also set up smart charging that draws from your solar generation first.
Smart Home & Control4
What is Control4 and how is it different from Google Home or Alexa? +
Control4 is a professional-grade smart home system designed for whole-home integration. Unlike Google Home or Amazon Alexa — which are consumer products that work well for individual devices but struggle to unify an entire home — Control4 is built from the ground up to integrate everything: lighting, climate, audio, security, blinds, and AV into a single reliable system. It's only available through certified dealers and is installed and programmed specifically for your home.
How much does a Control4 smart home cost in New Zealand? +
It varies significantly depending on the scope. A single-room setup — such as smart lighting and audio in a living room — can start from a few thousand dollars. A whole-home system with full integration across lighting, climate, audio, security, and blinds is a larger investment, typically starting from $15,000 and scaling with the size and complexity of the home. We provide a detailed, itemised quote after a free consultation.
Do I need a new build to get a smart home system? +
No — Control4 can be installed in existing homes as well as new builds. Some elements are easier and less expensive to add during construction (particularly in-wall cabling for keypads and speakers), but the majority of what Control4 offers can be retrofitted. We'll tell you honestly what's possible in your specific home during a free consultation.
Can I start with one room and expand later? +
Yes — that's one of the core strengths of Control4. The system is designed to be expandable. You might start with smart lighting and audio in the living room, then add climate control, then security cameras over the following year or two. We make sure the initial installation is built on a solid foundation so adding more is straightforward and cost-effective whenever you're ready.
Will Control4 work with the devices I already have? +
In most cases, yes. Control4 integrates with over 13,000 third-party products including most major TV brands, streaming devices, heat pumps, security cameras, smart locks, and solar inverters. We check compatibility with your existing equipment as part of the design process and will let you know if anything needs to be replaced or upgraded.
What happens if my Control4 system stops working? +
You call us — the same people who installed it. We're local to Northland, we know your specific system, and we can often diagnose and resolve issues remotely without needing to visit. If a site visit is required, we're in Northland — not at the end of a national support line. This is one of the genuine advantages of using a local dealer.
Why does it matter that WireWise is also a qualified electrician? +
Most smart home integrators are not licensed electricians. They either work around existing wiring or bring in a separate sparky. At WireWise, the electrical work and the smart home system are designed together by the same qualified person. This means the wiring is done properly from the start — not as an afterthought — and you have one point of contact for the entire installation.
AV & Entertainment
Can you install a home theatre in an existing room? +
Yes — we design and install home theatres in both existing rooms and purpose-built spaces. In an existing room we work around the constraints of the space, running cables in the wall where possible and selecting equipment suited to the room's dimensions, shape, and acoustics. The result in a well-treated existing room can be excellent — it just requires more careful design upfront.
Can you just mount my TV and hide the cables? +
Yes — TV mounting with concealed in-wall cabling is one of our most common jobs. We wall-mount the TV at the correct height for your seating position, run HDMI, power, and any other cables in the wall, and install a power point at the correct height behind the TV so there's nothing visible. The result looks clean and permanent — not like an afterthought.
What is multi-room audio and is it worth it? +
Multi-room audio means having music available in multiple areas of your home — kitchen, living room, outdoor area, bedrooms — with the ability to control what plays where from your phone. Whether it's worth it depends on how you live, but for people who enjoy having music on throughout the day it changes the feel of a home significantly. It can be as simple or as sophisticated as you want, and it integrates seamlessly with a Control4 system if you want to go further.
Do you install outdoor speakers and AV in coastal areas? +
Yes — and we specifically select equipment rated for coastal environments. Salt air is hard on outdoor AV equipment and generic consumer products often fail within a year or two in Northland conditions. We specify and install weatherproof and marine-grade equipment where appropriate, which lasts significantly longer and performs better in our climate.
Can my AV system be integrated with a Control4 smart home? +
Yes — AV integration is one of the most compelling parts of a Control4 system. One button can turn on your TV, dim the lights, close the blinds, and set the surround sound. Your music can be part of the same system as your lighting and security. If you're starting with AV and considering smart home in the future, we'll make sure the AV installation is set up to integrate easily when you're ready.
Security & CCTV
How many cameras do I need to cover my property? +
It depends entirely on your property layout, the coverage areas you want to monitor, and your budget. Rather than giving you a generic answer, we do a free site assessment where we walk your property and design a camera placement plan that provides genuine coverage with no unnecessary cameras. A well-designed 6-camera system often covers more than a poorly planned 12-camera one.
Can I view my security cameras on my phone? +
Yes — all the camera systems we install include remote viewing via a smartphone app. You can watch live footage, review recordings, and receive motion alerts from anywhere in the world. We set this up as part of the installation and make sure you're comfortable using it before we leave.
Do you install automatic gates for rural properties? +
Yes — gate automation for rural properties is one of our most common security jobs in Northland. We install swing and sliding gate motors, wiring, safety loops, intercoms and keypads. We also carry out repairs and servicing of existing gate systems. As IQP-registered installers, we're also qualified for commercial automatic door systems.
What's the difference between a monitored and unmonitored alarm? +
An unmonitored alarm triggers a siren and sends a notification to your phone, but there's no one watching — you or a nominated contact need to respond. A professionally monitored alarm connects to a monitoring centre that can alert you, a key holder, or emergency services on your behalf. We install both types and can advise on which makes more sense for your property and how often you're home.
Can my security system be integrated with my smart home? +
Yes — as Control4 certified dealers we can integrate your security system into a complete smart home. Your cameras, locks, and alarm sit alongside your lighting, climate, and audio in one app. You can set security scenes — "leaving home" arms the alarm, locks the doors, and closes the gates automatically — and get intelligent alerts that trigger lighting and recording together.
Solar
Does solar work well in Northland? +
Yes — Northland is one of the best regions in New Zealand for solar. The region records over 2,200 sunshine hours per year on average, which is among the highest in the country. That means your panels produce significantly more power here than they would in Auckland, Wellington, or the South Island. Combined with rising electricity prices, the financial case for solar in Northland is strong.
How much does solar cost in New Zealand? +
A standard residential solar system (6–10kW) typically costs between $12,000 and $20,000 installed, depending on panel quality, inverter type, and roof complexity. Adding battery storage adds $8,000–$15,000 depending on capacity. These are indicative figures — the right way to get an accurate number is through a free site assessment where we look at your actual roof, switchboard, and power bills.
How long until solar pays for itself in Northland? +
For a typical Northland household, payback on a well-designed solar system is generally 6–9 years without battery storage, and slightly longer with battery added. Factors that shorten the payback period include high daytime power use, an EV (which effectively fuels itself from solar), and time-of-use electricity tariffs. We provide realistic, property-specific payback projections as part of our free assessment.
Do I need battery storage to make solar worthwhile? +
Not necessarily. If you're home during the day or can shift some energy use to daylight hours, a panel-only system still delivers strong savings. Battery storage makes the most sense if you use most of your power in the evenings, have an EV, or want backup power for grid outages — which is a real consideration in rural Northland. We'll give you an honest assessment of whether battery storage stacks up financially for your situation.
What happens to my solar during a power cut? +
A standard grid-tied solar system without battery storage will shut down automatically during a grid outage — this is a safety requirement. If you want your home to keep running when the grid fails, you need a battery system with backup capability. Given Northland's power reliability in some rural areas, this is worth considering seriously. We can size a backup system for either critical circuits or whole-home coverage.
Can you add solar to an existing home? +
Yes — solar can be installed on most existing homes. We assess your roof structure, orientation and shading, and check your existing switchboard has capacity. Older switchboards sometimes need an upgrade to safely accommodate solar, which we include in the project. We handle the full grid connection application and network approval process on your behalf.
Why is it better to use a qualified electrician for solar installation? +
The switchboard connection is the most safety-critical part of a solar installation — and the part most commonly done to minimum standard by non-electricians. Many solar companies use installation crews who are not licensed electricians. At WireWise, the entire installation including the switchboard connection is done by a licensed electrician to the same standard as all our other electrical work. This matters for safety, insurance, and long-term reliability.
Still have a question?
Get in touch via the link below -
or call Jake directly on 021 104 9737