We received a call late on a Wednesday evening from the owner of a villa on Disraeli Street. She had noticed a burning smell coming from a light switch in the hallway and was understandably worried. When we arrived and removed the switch plate, the cause was immediately apparent. The old rubber-insulated wiring behind the switch had deteriorated badly over the decades and was arcing against the metal back box. Scorch marks on the timber framing told us this had been getting progressively worse for some time. We isolated the circuit straight away, cut out the damaged section of cable, and ran new modern TPS wiring to replace it. A new switch mechanism was fitted and we tested the entire circuit end to end before restoring power. Given the age and condition of what we found behind that single switch plate, we strongly recommended a full rewiring assessment for the rest of the home. The wiring elsewhere was likely in a similar state of decay.
Addington sits close to the heart of Christchurch, just southwest of the CBD. It is one of the city's oldest established suburbs with a mix of heritage character homes, workers' cottages, converted commercial buildings, and newer infill housing. The area has undergone significant change in recent years, particularly along Lincoln Road and around what has become known as Addington village. This blend of old and new creates a wide variety of electrical challenges that we encounter regularly on emergency callouts.
Addington's Character Homes and Electrical Challenges
Addington is home to a large number of villas and workers' cottages dating from the early 1900s through to the 1940s. These properties were built in an era when household electricity was in its infancy. A couple of light fittings and perhaps a single power point per room was considered adequate. The wiring systems installed in these homes were never intended to support the electrical demands of modern living, and many have only been partially upgraded over the years, creating a patchwork of old and new that can be problematic.
We still encounter remnants of knob-and-tube wiring in some of Addington's oldest homes. This early wiring method used ceramic knobs and tubes to route individual conductors through wall cavities and ceiling spaces. While it was acceptable practice at the time, the insulation on these conductors has long since become brittle and crumbled away, leaving bare copper exposed in contact with timber framing and insulation material. This presents a serious fire risk, particularly when circuits are loaded beyond the minimal capacity they were designed for.
Cloth-covered wiring is another common discovery in Addington properties from the 1940s through to the 1960s. The fabric sheathing on these cables degrades over time, becoming dry and flaky. Once the protective covering breaks down the inner conductors are exposed, and any movement of the cable or contact with moisture can cause short circuits or earth faults. We frequently trace flickering lights and nuisance RCD tripping in older Addington homes back to sections of deteriorated cloth-covered cable hidden in the walls or ceiling.
Many of these character homes also lack modern safety devices. Residual current devices, which are now mandatory in new installations, were never fitted when these homes were originally wired and have not always been added during subsequent upgrades. Without RCD protection, an earth fault that would normally trip the safety switch instantly instead relies on the main fuse or circuit breaker, which may not operate quickly enough to prevent injury or fire. Undersized circuits running on old rewireable fuses are another frequent finding. These fuses can be replaced with incorrect wire sizes, effectively defeating the overcurrent protection entirely.
The character and charm of these Addington homes is worth preserving, but the electrical systems behind the walls often tell a very different story. Layers of modifications by different electricians over many decades, some done properly and some not, create complications that only become apparent when something goes wrong. An emergency callout to one faulty circuit can reveal a much larger picture of aged wiring that needs systematic attention.
Commercial and Mixed-Use Properties
Addington has undergone a remarkable transformation in recent years, particularly along Lincoln Road and through what is now Addington village. Former industrial buildings, old shops, and residential properties have been converted into bars, restaurants, cafes, boutique retail spaces, and offices. This revitalisation has brought energy and character to the area, but it has also created some significant electrical challenges in buildings that were never designed for their current use.
Many of these converted commercial premises are operating on electrical systems that were originally installed for light residential or basic commercial use. A building that once served as a small corner shop may now house a busy restaurant with commercial kitchen equipment, refrigeration, lighting systems, and electronic point-of-sale terminals all drawing heavily on circuits that were sized for a completely different purpose. Overloaded circuits in these environments are a genuine safety concern, and we attend emergency callouts to hospitality venues in Addington where breakers have tripped under the strain of peak-hour demand.
Three-phase power supply issues are another area we deal with in Addington's commercial precinct. Some older buildings were supplied with three-phase power for industrial equipment that has long since been removed. The three-phase supply may still be present but the distribution within the building has been altered multiple times. Phase imbalance, where the electrical load is unevenly distributed across the three phases, causes overheating in cables and switchgear. We have attended premises where a single phase was carrying the majority of the load while the other two phases sat nearly idle, a situation that is both inefficient and potentially dangerous.
Old switchboards in converted buildings are a recurring theme. The original switchboard may have been adequate for the building's former life, but the demands of a modern commercial operation have outgrown it entirely. Additional circuits have been added over the years, sometimes in a haphazard fashion, with cables squeezed into boards that have no spare capacity. These overcrowded switchboards generate heat, make fault finding difficult, and present a fire risk. When a critical circuit fails during service hours in a busy Addington cafe or bar, the pressure to get things working again quickly is intense, and having a clear understanding of the switchboard layout is essential.
We also see issues with shared electrical supplies in mixed-use buildings where residential tenants occupy upper floors while commercial operators are on the ground level. Disputes over metering, shared circuits, and responsibility for upgrades can complicate emergency repairs. Our role is to make the situation safe first and then advise all parties on what permanent work is needed to bring the installation up to standard.
Common Addington Emergency Callouts
Complete power loss in older homes is one of our most frequent callouts in Addington. The causes vary widely. It might be a failed main fuse, a deteriorated connection at the switchboard, a fault in the underground service cable, or a problem at the meter board. In homes with aged wiring, the point of failure is not always obvious and requires careful investigation. We carry testing equipment that allows us to quickly identify whether the issue is on the network side or within the property itself, which determines the correct course of action.
RCD tripping caused by degraded wiring is extremely common in Addington's older housing stock. As cable insulation breaks down over the years, small leakage currents develop that are enough to trigger the residual current device. The tripping might be intermittent at first, perhaps only occurring in damp weather when moisture finds its way into wall cavities and interacts with compromised insulation. Over time the problem worsens and the RCD begins tripping more frequently until eventually it will not stay on at all. Tracking down the specific circuit and the exact location of the insulation breakdown requires patience and systematic testing.
Flickering lights are another issue we respond to regularly across Addington. While flickering can sometimes indicate a simple loose bulb or fitting, in older properties it more often points to deteriorating connections within the switchboard, at junction points within the ceiling space, or at the light switch itself. Loose connections generate heat through arcing, which accelerates the deterioration and creates a fire risk. What starts as an annoying flicker can progress to a genuine hazard if left unattended, so we treat these callouts seriously and inspect all accessible connection points on the affected circuit.
Hot outlets and switches are a problem we encounter with concerning regularity in Addington. When a power point or light switch feels warm or hot to the touch, it indicates a poor connection somewhere in the circuit. The resistance at a loose or corroded connection point generates heat, and in extreme cases this can ignite surrounding materials. Old bakelite switch mechanisms and power points with worn contact springs are frequent culprits. We replace these with modern components and check the cable connections to ensure they are tight and in good condition.
Water damage to electrical installations is an issue that affects many Addington homes, particularly those with aging roofing and guttering systems. When roofing iron deteriorates or gutters overflow, water can track along timber framing and into wall cavities where it comes into contact with cables, junction boxes, and switch mechanisms. The combination of water and electricity is always dangerous, and these situations require careful assessment before any remedial work begins. We isolate affected circuits, dry out components where possible, and replace anything that has been compromised by moisture ingress.
Rental Properties and Compliance
Addington has one of the highest concentrations of rental properties in Christchurch. Its proximity to the city centre, Ara Institute, and Hagley Park makes it popular with students, young professionals, and workers who want an affordable inner-city location. This large rental population means that a significant proportion of the emergency callouts we attend in Addington are to tenanted properties, which brings its own set of considerations around responsibility and compliance.
Landlords in New Zealand have clear obligations when it comes to electrical safety in rental properties. The Residential Tenancies Act and the Healthy Homes Standards require that electrical installations are safe and in reasonable condition. Aging wiring, lack of RCD protection, insufficient power points, and non-compliant switchboards are all issues that landlords are responsible for addressing. When we attend an emergency at a rental property, we provide a clear written report of what we found and what work is needed, which helps both landlords and tenants understand their respective obligations.
Overloaded power boards are something we see time and time again in Addington rentals. Older homes with limited power points lead tenants to rely heavily on multi-boards and extension leads to power their devices. When multiple high-draw appliances are connected through a single power point via double adapters and power strips, the circuit and the outlet itself can become dangerously overloaded. We often recommend that landlords invest in additional power points to reduce reliance on multi-boards, which is a relatively inexpensive preventive measure compared to the cost of an electrical fire.
Old wiring that does not meet current standards is widespread in Addington rental properties. While existing installations are not always required to be brought up to current code, they must still be safe. There is an important distinction between wiring that is simply old and wiring that is actively dangerous. We help landlords understand this distinction and prioritise the most critical upgrades. Pre-tenancy electrical inspections are something we strongly recommend for any rental property in Addington, particularly those built before the 1970s. A thorough inspection can identify hazards before a new tenant moves in, protecting both the tenant's safety and the landlord's liability.
Tenants also have responsibilities. Reporting electrical faults promptly, not tampering with switchboards or wiring, and using electrical equipment sensibly are all part of being a responsible occupant. When tenants delay reporting a problem like a sparking outlet or a burning smell, what might have been a minor repair can escalate into a serious emergency. We encourage open communication between tenants and landlords about electrical concerns, and we are happy to explain our findings to both parties when we attend a callout.
Our Approach to Addington Callouts
Working in Addington means working with a wide range of housing ages and styles, and we have adapted our approach accordingly. We know the older housing stock in this suburb intimately. The types of wiring, the common switchboard configurations, the typical layout of circuits in a 1920s villa versus a 1950s state house - this familiarity allows us to diagnose problems more efficiently and arrive better prepared for what we are likely to find.
Our vehicles are stocked with parts and materials suited to working with both legacy and modern electrical systems. We carry a range of cable types, connectors, circuit breakers, RCDs, switch mechanisms, and power points that allow us to interface new work with existing installations. In older homes, it is not always possible or practical to replace everything at once, so having the right components to make safe and compliant repairs within the context of an older system is essential.
We respect the character of Addington's older homes. When we need to run new cable or install additional components, we take care to minimise visual impact and avoid unnecessary damage to original features. Plaster walls, timber architraves, and decorative ceiling roses are part of what makes these homes special, and we work around them as carefully as we can. Where access panels or surface-mounted cable runs are needed, we discuss the options with the homeowner so they can make informed decisions about the approach.
Clear communication is central to how we operate. After every emergency callout, we explain exactly what we found, what we did to resolve the immediate problem, and what further work might be advisable. We are straightforward about the difference between what is urgent and what can wait. Not every issue discovered during an emergency visit requires immediate action, and we will never pressure anyone into unnecessary work. Our aim is to make the situation safe, provide honest advice, and let the property owner decide on the next steps at their own pace.
Response time in Addington is excellent given its central location. We can typically reach any address in the suburb quickly, whether it is a residential street off Lincoln Road, a commercial premises in the village precinct, or a property tucked away on one of the quieter side streets. Day or night, weekday or weekend, our emergency service operates around the clock because electrical faults do not wait for business hours.