Kiwi,
Our "Electricity Act" doesn't really provide for legally disconnecting unsafe installations.
That is incorrect, we have Regulation 69 and 69A that enforce this rule.
There was a time when you had to notify the Secretary of Energy to effect a disconnection and a Faultsman would do it for you.
These days a simple call to the local Lines Company will have the same effect.
We don't want our Network here damaged by non-compliant wiring and on the same side of the coin, we don't want our customers hurt by this wiring either.
To quote the EWRB:
Every person in New Zealand has the right to a safe and working electricity supply
It's just a shame that some people that own houses that other people live in don't seem to see it the same way.
A local Inspector here yesterday had me disconnect a house, under Reg 69, land-lord was all up in arms.
I just said, if you'd kept up with the maintenance, I wouldn't be here.
was the Landlord aware of the electrical problems ? If he was then I think you showed geat restraint in not punching him.
He was aware, and he had a piece of paper to show it from the New Zealand Fire Service, that said that "this house is a danger to life and property".
Having said that, there are two sorts of people I hate at fire incidents, the first being kids that get in your way and like to "play" with the pump controls.
The second being news media folks that think they have a right to be there.
I saved two of the latter last year from a huge explosion while trying to fight a house fire, the cameraman complained that he got wet.
I got glass shards in my bunker coat and my back.
TVNZ is now banned from our fireground, TV3 knows to stand back and get an interview later.