Gisborne is consistently one of New Zealand's sunniest regions, which makes solar a genuinely strong investment for local homes, farms and businesses. Because it's a smaller, more remote city, the pool of genuinely local, verifiable installers is limited — we only recommend businesses we could independently confirm are real, operating, and actually based in the region.
This page highlights the Top 2 solar panel installers in Gisborne, based on independent research into reputation, accreditation, service quality and overall reliability.
The top 2 solar panel installers in Gisborne are 1. First Light Electrical Solutions (First Light Solar), 2. Electrinet. Below we explain why each made the list, compare them at a glance, and share how to choose.
This paid placement sits above the editorial Top 2 and is clearly labelled. It does not influence the rankings below.
New businesses: 50% off your first 6 monthsFeatured placement above does not influence these rankings.
Established in Gisborne in 2019 as the city's first dedicated solar company, First Light is a SEANZ member and an authorised installer for Solar Zero. It holds its own genuine Google Business Profile with a perfect 5.0 rating across 33 reviews for its electrical work, plus a separate First Light Solar profile at the same Esplanade address.
Founded in 2001, Electrinet is Eastland's largest electrical contractor with 54 staff covering the East Coast and Northern Hawke's Bay, and part of the Horizon Energy Group. Solar sits within its wider Green Energy division, with proven category-specific work including the Gisborne Airport solar installation (49.55MWh/year generation capacity).
A quick comparison of our Top 2 picks. Select up to 3 businesses above to compare their strengths side by side.
| Solar Panel Installer | Best for |
|---|---|
| First Light Electrical Solutions (First Light Solar) | Dedicated local solar specialist |
| Electrinet | Established electrical contractor with a solar division |
Independent, editorial, and reviewed regularly.
TopChoice rankings are editorially curated by our New Zealand team and reviewed periodically. We don't host our own reviews. Our shortlists draw on public reputation signals from Google and other platforms, alongside our own research into each solar panel installer. We weigh up a combination of:
We don't accept payment in exchange for a place in the Top 2. Featured placements are separate and always clearly labelled. Rankings may change over time as businesses evolve.
Look for SEANZ accreditation, since SEANZ members work to a Code of Conduct and install to AS/NZS 5033 standards. Also check what panel and inverter brands are used and what warranty backs the workmanship — a longer warranty usually reflects a company confident in its own installation quality, not just the panel manufacturer's cover.
From September 2026, electricians carrying out grid-tied solar work need the Electrical Workers Registration Board's Endorsed Mains Parallel Generation Systems registration as part of licence renewal, so it's worth asking whether your installer's electricians hold this. It also pays to check they'll handle the retailer paperwork and network connection application for you, since most residential rooftop installs under 40m² per roof no longer need a council building consent following the October 2025 exemption, but still need to be signed off with your lines company and electricity retailer.
Costs vary with system size and roof complexity, but a typical residential system in the region runs into the low-to-mid five figures installed. Get a site-specific quote from a local installer rather than relying on a generic national estimate.
Since October 2025, MBIE's building consent exemption means most residential rooftop solar installs under 40 square metres per roof no longer require a building consent, which has simplified and sped up the process for most Gisborne homeowners. Larger or more complex installs may still need consent, so check with your installer.
Excess power you generate is exported back to the grid. From July 2026, major electricity retailers must offer time-of-use pricing and pay rebates for solar exported during peak times, which makes exporting surplus power more valuable than it used to be.
Yes. Gisborne is consistently one of New Zealand's sunniest regions, giving solar systems in the area strong generation potential and helping installations pay themselves off faster than in cloudier parts of the country.
A battery isn't essential, but it lets you store daytime solar generation for evening use rather than exporting it, which can improve your overall savings — especially useful in Gisborne given how many sunshine hours the region gets to charge one up.
Editorial disclosure: TopChoice is an independent editorial platform. Some pages may include clearly labelled featured placements for additional visibility. Featured placements do not influence rankings within our Top 2 lists.
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