Solar across Aotearoa

A 6.6 kW solar system installed in Northland today pays itself off in 5.7 years. The same system in Otago takes 7.7 years. The two-year gap isn’t sunshine, both regions get roughly the same daily peak. It’s three other levers, and only one is the weather.

Sunshine hours. Whakatane gets 2,300+ hours a year, the most in NZ. Otago and Waikato sit closer to 1,900-1,950. A typical 6.6 kW system in Whakatane generates 9,870 kWh/year vs 8,740 in Otago. Real, but smaller than most people guess. A Christchurch roof still produces 9,430 kWh, more than enough to halve a typical Kiwi power bill.

Electricity rates. The lever most homeowners underestimate. Northland pays 36.4c/kWh, the highest in NZ, because lines charges to a sparse population cost more. Otago pays 28.8c. Same panels, very different annual savings: $2,410/year in Northland vs $1,760 in Otago.

EDB export rules. Your lines company caps how much solar you can export to the grid without pre-approval. Vector (Auckland) and Orion (Canterbury) cap at 5 kW. Powerco (Bay of Plenty, Hawke’s Bay), Aurora (Otago), and Northpower / Top Energy (Northland) allow 10 kW. If your roof fits a bigger system, the cap decides whether you can sell the surplus.

Solar Scout has a vetted installer network in the eight regions below. Each page covers the local lines rules, real retailer buy-back rates, installed-cost ranges, and matched installers we’ve vetted ourselves. Pick yours.