Remuera house by house
Grand homes
Grand homes went up in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and the special character area covers houses built up to 1940, many on generous lots. Seven buildings on Arney Road are on the Heritage New Zealand list.
Units from the 1980s
Smaller sections were developed from the 1960s, and the 1980s brought a wave of infill units and flats.
Trees everywhere
Houses are typically set back four to 12 metres or more, and the area is known for trees on private and public land.
Settled, not building
Ōrākei had the lowest share of dwellings under construction in Auckland in 2023 (0.9%), and only 29.7% of households rented.
2023 slip
One of the deaths in the 27 January 2023 floods was caused by a slip in Remuera.
Wiring a large older house
Big houses often outgrow a single board. An electrician may suggest a sub-board for an extension, a garage or a pool house, which is general work with a Certificate of Compliance. Replacing the main board with a higher-capacity one is high-risk work and gets an independent inspection.
If parts of the house still run on original cable, a staged rewire can follow the renovation room by room.
Lighting and outdoor power
Long driveways and gardens are common here, so outdoor lighting and power to sheds or pool equipment come up often. Outdoor circuits need weatherproof fittings and RCD protection. See outdoor and garden lighting.
With so many established trees, the service line from the street can run through branches. Vector says that line is the owner's responsibility once it leaves the street.
What we'd do in a Remuera renovation
We'd ask the electrician for a written circuit survey of the whole house before the architect finalises the plans. In a house altered over a century, knowing what's there saves surprises when the walls come off.
Want a specialist to sort it?
Tell us the job and your postcode. We match the licence-checked local electrician who does this kind of work, and they call you. No ring-around, and your number goes to them alone.