Living off-grid is the dream goal for many Kiwis. Whether it’s to reduce reliance on infrastructure, live more sustainably, or design a home that truly suits the way you want to live. But behind every off-grid home that works well is a set of carefully planned systems that handle the basics: power, water, and wastewater.

We’ve worked with hundreds of off-grid projects and one thing is clear: with the right setup, living off-grid doesn’t mean going without. It means understanding your needs, designing for your environment, and choosing systems that are reliable, low-maintenance, and built to last.

Here’s what that looks like in practice:

1. Power: build for actual use, not just ideal conditions

Most people start with solar when planning an off-grid power system. It’s a great foundation — but sizing it properly is crucial.

Some key tips:

• Start with your real energy needs. List your appliances, tools, and heating/cooling loads. Guessing too low leads to constant compromises; guessing too high wastes money.

• Battery storage matters as much as generation. Solar output changes daily and seasonally. A well-sized battery bank keeps your home running through cloudy days and high-use periods.

• Factor in redundancy and monitoring. A backup generator and a simple monitoring system can make a huge difference in both peace of mind and performance.

2. Water: collect, store and filter for long-term reliability

When you're off-grid, water has to be managed from source to tap. Rainwater harvesting is common, but it’s not as simple as putting a tank under the gutter.

What we’ve learned works best:

• Start with catchment potential. Understand your roof area, rainfall patterns, and storage capacity.

• Keep storage clean and accessible. First-flush diverters, filters, and screens all reduce contamination and maintenance.

• Don’t forget treatment. Even in pristine environments, basic filtration or UV treatment adds a layer of safety — especially if you're using water for drinking.

3. Wastewater: design a system that fits your site and lifestyle

We’ve supported hundreds of off-grid homes with wastewater systems, and the most successful ones have three things in common:

• They’re matched to the site. Soil type, slope, and proximity to water sources all impact what kind of system will work.

• They’re designed with simplicity in mind. Fewer moving parts = less maintenance. Gravity-fed systems are gold where possible.

• They comply with local regs, without overengineering. Off-grid doesn’t mean out-of-scope. A well-designed system can meet compliance and still be efficient, natural, and easy to manage.

Off-Grid living starts with smart infrastructure

Going off-grid is about gaining independence and clarity over how your home runs. When your systems are well designed, you don’t have to think about them every day. They just work.

We’ve worked with hundreds of homeowners building off-grid setups across NZ. If you're at the stage where you're planning wastewater, or just want to bounce ideas off someone who's seen what works, we’re happy to help.

Book your free site assesment.

Browse our off-grid wastewater systems.