What makes Waiheke different
Power by sea
Waiheke connects to the mainland by twin 33 kV undersea cables from Maraetai, and Vector runs the network. Electricity only reached the island in 1953.
Your own water
Each house must maintain its own water supply, mostly rainwater tanks. Outside the Oneroa sewage district, homes have their own septic systems.
Empty homes
Over a third of houses are unoccupied according to Wikipedia, and 12.5% of dwellings were empty on census night in 2023, the second-highest share in Auckland.
Separate houses
90.0% of Waiheke homes are separate houses, the highest share of any Auckland board, and 73.6% are owner-occupied.
Old subdivisions
Ostend was the first subdivision, in 1915. Waiheke has had its own local board since 2010.
Pumps and power
A water pump that stops is often an electrical fault: a tripped RCD, a failed pressure switch or a damaged cable to the tank. Reset the RCD once. If it trips again, leave it and call a licensed electrician. Septic pumps and alarms need the same care.
Pumps outdoors need weatherproof fittings and RCD protection. If yours runs off an extension lead, get it wired properly.
Homes that sit empty
A holiday home can lose power for days without anyone noticing, leaving a fridge, a pump or a security light off. A licensed electrician can set up a dedicated circuit for essentials, and check that nothing old is left running unattended. If you rent the house out, smoke alarms must work at the start of every tenancy.
What we'd do on Waiheke
We'd ask an electrician to check the pump circuit and RCD before summer. In a dry season, a pump fault plus a water truck wait is a long time without water.
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.