Trade Me property customer director Gavin Lloyd said the behaviour was “a direct reflection of the anxiety the average Kiwi feels at the petrol pump”.
“When it comes to a home, Kiwis are increasingly interested in a property that can serve as an energy bank, insulating the household from global oil shocks and rising utility bills.
“Whether it’s a family looking for an EV-ready garage or a retiree going fully self-sufficient, the Kiwi property dream appears to be being redefined by energy security.”
Sales of electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrids have surged as fuel prices rise, following geopolitical tensions, including the Iran conflict.
New and New Zealand-new registrations of electric cars and plug-in hybrids totalled 1033 for the week ending March 22.
That’s compared to 225 for the third week of March last year, according to the Ministry of Transport.
In Northland, EV registrations peaked at 512 in 2023, fell to 78 in the year to December 2024, then rose to 145 in 2025, Infometrics data shows.
Northland Auto owner Colin Kitchen said plug-in and petrol hybrids had already proved popular.
He said demand meant full electric vehicles, the Ora 5, would be for sale later this month.
Much of the demand was also driven by the Government’s clean car standards, an initiative to tackle transport sector CO2 emission levels in a bid to address climate change.
“Over the last two or three months, inquiries on plug-ins and full electric vehicles have escalated,” Kitchen said.
International political uncertainty had nudged fence-sitters into choosing hybrids or EVs, he said.
Kitchen said fuel savings were “a big thing” and if a driver was doing short trips around town, one of his firm’s plug-in hybrids has a range of 183km.
“The hybrids are fuel-efficient, energy-saving and environmentally friendly as well.”
Electric cars are becoming more popular as fuel prices rise.
With electricity prices soaring year on year, households are hurting.
Power prices have risen so much in New Zealand that the Electricity Authority has requested information from power companies as to whether further price increases are expected before winter.
The authority estimates most households face average increases of around 8% to their power bills before winter, on top of last year’s 8% increase.
Consumer NZ analysis shows large differences around the country, with the Far North copping some of the biggest increases.
Kerikeri currently has among the highest average electricity prices in the country at around 20% above the national average and 32% higher than Wellington.
Even before the latest increases, households in the Far North were paying hundreds of dollars more each year, Consumer’s Powerswitch manager Paul Fuge said.
“Unfortunately, the biggest increases are often landing in areas where prices were already high and incomes are lower, worsening energy hardship.”
Fuge said households could reduce costs and ensure they were on the right plan by checking Powerswitch.
“Don’t wait for a winter bill shock,” Fuge said.
“Check Powerswitch now. Just a few minutes could save you hundreds of dollars a year.”
Another option to reduce power bills is to install a solar system.
Installing a residential solar system in New Zealand delivers average power bill savings of $1000 to $1500 a year.
Industry estimates suggest that over the 25-year lifespan of a standard system, total household electricity costs can be 75% cheaper than relying entirely on the national grid.
Solar Northland has been installing solar systems from Whangārei to Kaitāia for several years.
Solar Northland owner Grant Penno said having solar gives peace of mind during power outages and rising electricity bills.
Owner Grant Penno said the last few months have “gone nuts”.
“Because of the fuel crisis, a lot of people are looking at alternative energy. A lot more people are going fully electric.
“People want a cheaper way of charging their cars and power is the most expensive in the country in Northland.”
Apart from the savings on power bills, having solar panels makes households more resilient as well, Penno said.
“A lot can go wrong for a long time up north when the grid fails – like when someone took the bolts out of the Transpower pylon.”
Frequent storms, trees falling on to power lines and those infamous infrastructure issues mean power cuts are a frequent issue in Northland.
With every severe weather event, there’s a mad rush to stock up in a bid to prepare.
While most pay for essentials, some are prepared to fork out for big-ticket items such as generators to power their homes and businesses.
Whangārei-based Donovans Trade Supplies manager Scotty Brown said he had seen a massive demand for generators, particularly after Cyclone Gabrielle.
Brown said it happens at nearly every weather event now, including in the lead up to Cyclone Vaianu.
“There’s definitely been a knock-on effect; we’ve sold a lot of generators in the past month.
“People are being wary and trying to be one step ahead of the weather.
“It’s taken a while for people to wake up and see that things aren’t going to change and they need back-up.”
Donovans Trade Supplies manager Scotty Brown said demand for generators and inverters surges with every bad weather event.
Brown said it was important to realise the difference between generators and inverters.
Conventional generators run at a fixed speed, making them louder and better suited for heavy-duty, high-power needs.
Inverter generators are quieter, more fuel-efficient and produce cleaner power that is ideal for sensitive electronics like laptops and phones.
Inverters can also get wired into solar panels, Brown said.
They cost between $1500 and $10,000 for residential use, depending on power output and brand, though inverter generators are usually more expensive.
While some of these measures are quick to implement and budget-friendly, others are not.
However, several major banks offer no or very low-interest home loan top-ups to fund home heating, insulation and energy-efficient upgrades.
The “green loans” are typically for between $50,000 and $80,000, depending on the bank.
Home owners can borrow for:
Heating, including for heat pumps, wood burners, insulation, ventilation systems and double or triple glazing.Rainwater harvesting, by installing water tanks to collect rainwater, crucial for water security.Renewable energy systems such as solar panels, batteries and inverters.
Most banks also allow people to borrow for electric or hybrid electric vehicles.
Apart from mortgage top-ups, there are also government grants and 0% interest credit card offers.
MoneyHub founder Christopher Walsh advised caution when navigating the landscape of green loans.
“Consider the immediate benefits, long-term financial impact and feasibility.
“Make informed decisions by thoroughly evaluating each option against your financial situation and sustainability goals.”
Jenny Ling is a senior journalist at the Northern Advocate. She has a special interest in covering human interest stories, along with finance, roading and social issues.