Last month, Graeme Kyle was fined $6,000 in Dannevirke District Court for negligently working without a permit. He left two exposed electrical wires, causing an overload on the sub-circuit, which burned part of the distribution board.
Also in June, Han Jong Kim was fined $6000 in the Whangarei District Court for carrying out unlicensed electrical work when he installed conductors and fittings in three cabins he planned to rent on his property.
Others who have appeared in court and been fined since March include Jingjing Wang, Santini Rini and Supercell Ltd, a company that was fined $9,000 for allowing an unlicensed person to install a home ventilation system at a residential property in Auckland.
Registrar of the Electrical Workers Registration Board (EWRB), Duncan Connor, said: “Regulating electricians and other electrical workers ensures that people doing the work have the right training and can avoid electrical hazards.”
The Electricity Regulatory Authority has brought “a number” of cases to court involving shoddy work and unlicensed electricians. Mbe said these cases showed that homeowners and residents were unaware that electricians were unqualified.
“All complaints made about unregistered electricians and poor or dangerous electrical work are taken seriously and investigated by the Electricity Regulatory Authority, which will not hesitate to prosecute those who carry out illegal electrical work,” Connor said.
“Pretending to be an electrician and performing the described electrical work is not only deceptive, it is extremely dangerous for all involved.
“Anyone hiring an electrician should check the public registry and ask to see details of their license before hiring them,” he said.
Rafael Franks is an Auckland-based reporter covering breaking news. He joined the Herald as a trainee officer in Te Ritu in 2022.
