Ellerslie facts for plumbing
A building surge
The 2023 Census found 294 homes under construction in Ellerslie, up from 6 in 2018. 468 new dwellings were consented in the year to March 2026, against 26 in the year to March 2013.
Renters and units
43% of Ellerslie households didn't own their home or hold it in a trust in 2023 (34% nationally). In the Ōrākei board area, 34.0% of homes are joined dwellings.
Where water gathers
Auckland Emergency Management's Ōrākei plan says Ellerslie Domain, western Churchill Park and nearby areas are known to be vulnerable to flooding.
Town centre character
The Unitary Plan lists Ellerslie's shops as a business special character area: repairs and redecoration are permitted, additions need consent.
Hot water on ripple relays
In Central and South Auckland, Vector uses ripple relays rather than pilot wires, so after a power cut your cylinder should reheat by itself. It can take up to six hours. Still cold after that? Check the cylinder is switched on, then ring Vector on 0508 832 867 for an electric one, or a gasfitter or plumber for a gas one.
Townhouses and shared drains
In a townhouse block, drains and water pipes may be shared. On a cross-lease site, Watercare ignores the internal lines and goes by the original title boundary when it decides where its wastewater pipe meets yours, so the join may be somewhere unexpected. Ask Watercare on (09) 442 2222, option 4, and get a drainlayer to trace the private pipes before anyone digs. Our Auckland drainlayers page has more.
Ellerslie and around
Neighbours: Remuera, Onehunga and Newmarket. Citywide jobs: hot water cylinders, blocked drains and leak detection.
Our advice for Ellerslie
If you've bought into a new block, find out early which pipes are shared and who looks after them, before the first blockage forces the question. Keep the plumber's and drainlayer's details from the build. For a cold cylinder, give it six hours after any outage before you book a hot water specialist.