Solar panels & solar system equipment

Solar panels and solar system equipment in New Zealand: prices and rules

Updated 4 November 2026

A small home system of 7 panels with a 3kW inverter costs about NZ$4,000 without a battery, and 18 to 22 panels with an inverter and battery about NZ$9,000–NZ$28,000. A single 450W panel costs about NZ$145–NZ$180. For prices that fit your roof and budget, send a request on BlaBlaPrice.

Electrician, standards and safety

WorkSafe recommends a registered electrician for installing PV systems and warns about homeowners installing them themselves. A best-practice guide for residential solar systems has been developed by Standards New Zealand with industry experts, and a draft standard covers supporting structures, panel height, orientation, cable trenching and electrical components. Ask any installer how the system meets that guide.

Warranties to ask about

Most panels come with a 25-year performance warranty, and good panels are usually guaranteed for at least 25 years without servicing. Under a 25-year warranty, manufacturers usually expect a panel to still produce about 80% of its original output at year 25. Some offers advertise 40 years, but that usually needs registration and a partner installer, and the standard term is 25 years. Ask for the warranty in writing for panels, inverter and battery separately.

Season, orientation and cleaning

Output is highest from December to February, when the days are longest, and lowest in winter from June to August. Rain normally keeps panels clean, but they should be checked and cleaned when dust or debris builds up. Orientation and panel height affect output, and the draft guide covers both, so tell the seller which way the roof faces before you order.

Packages and what is included

Packages range from 7-panel systems to 22-panel systems with 10kW inverters, and some are sold as installation-free plug-and-play kits. Panels are described by watt rating and size in millimetres, such as 1134 mm by 1762 mm for a 450W bifacial panel. Check whether the price includes installation, the inverter and the battery, and which cities the installer covers, such as Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Hamilton or Tauranga.

BlaBlaPrice is free for buyers. Describe the system, the roof and your budget in your own words in the chat, and add a photo if you have one. The AI asks for missing details, looks through sellers' websites and price lists in New Zealand, and shows the prices and businesses it finds. Registered sellers reply in the chat with their offer and terms, and your contacts stay hidden until you choose. Give your city first; the full address can wait until you pick a seller. Compare backup power and backup power batteries.