Later in February, our team headed north with a trailer full of solar equipment to finally meet our Gift Of Freedom winners. The morning was clear and quiet in Northland. The kind of morning that reminds you why people choose this life in the first place.
For us, this was one of the most special days of the year.
For them, this moment had been years in the making.
Their journey started with a simple vision to raise their family on the land, surrounded by nature, living a slower and more intentional life. Back in 2024, they decided to leave the rat-race behind in Brisbane, packed everything into a container, and moved back to family land in Northland.
What they built was not immediate or easy.
Their first home was a temporary camp, something put together in just five weeks. It had a roof, some walls, and enough to get by, but it was never meant for long-term living.
"We've got a few leaks, but we're very strategic about where we plant our pot plants and the growth on them."
There was no privacy. Power came from a generator that was expensive and unreliable. They were raising children in a space that was always a compromise. Still, they made it work. Because the bigger vision mattered more. As their permanent home began to take shape, one problem brought everything to a stop.
Power.
They explored getting connected to the grid and received a quote that changed things around.
"They gave us a quote for $80,000 for a transformer to be installed. That was not going to happen in my lifetime."
Work slowed down. Then it stopped altogether.
"We got to a point where we were like, doing the wiring and everything, and we had to just stop and go, what's the next step? What are we going to do?"
Without power, there was no clear way forward. Moving into the house before winter felt out of reach for them. The pressure of providing for their family while building a home began to take its toll.
"If it wasn't for the Gift of Freedom program, we would have put a little bit of a halt on this build. We wouldn't have been able to get in there for this winter."
While Monica and Nick were carrying that weight, someone close to them saw it clearly. Monica’s sister Katie had watched the stress build. She saw the moment the cost of power shifted everything.
"I saw the life almost leave her a little bit, of what it was going to cost to get them into their home with power."
So she decided to do something about it.
Without telling them, she created a video and submitted an application to GridFree’s Gift of Freedom program. And her application meant everything to us. Seeing a real off-grid family doing their best to live more independently and self-sufficiently, and putting in the hard work to make things work. But power? Way too expensive to sort.
Weeks later, during a family birthday gathering, they received the news from us.
"You got free solar."
The moment was overwhelming. Being seen and supported, validated their years of hard work.
"It was a surreal moment of like... we actually do deserve this, and it's the right decision that's been made. It solidified what we had been doing for the last almost 2 years."
Without it, they would have faced at least another year or so of waiting and uncertainty. With it, everything shifted. The house could be finished. The timeline became real. The pressure began to ease.
Living off-grid is not easy. It requires daily effort, constant problem-solving, and a willingness to adapt. Their days are full. Growing food, raising children, and building a home all at once. But what they have gained is something deeper.
"Living on my off-grid land, it means everything. It truly does."
Their children are growing up surrounded by nature, learning in a way that feels connected and real. The family spends time together in ways that were not possible before.
When installation day arrived, there was a quiet anticipation. The system was installed. Everything was ready. All that was left was one simple moment. A hand reached for the switch.
"Do you want to turn a light switch on?"
With that, the light bulb lit! A small action carrying the weight of everything that had come before it.
"It's a massive, massive thing. It's a milestone in our lives."
For the first time, their home had power. It gave them control, certainty, and the ability to move forward. It ascended from being just a project. It's becoming a home to live, nurture, and build their future.
We couldn't be more proud to give you guys the Gift of Freedom.
Stories like this are becoming more common across rural New Zealand. Rising costs and limited access to infrastructure are forcing families to look for new ways to live.
For those exploring that path, complete off-grid systems are available here:
https://gridfree.store/collections/complete-off-grid-solar-packages
And for families who need support, the Gift of Freedom program continues to create moments like this:
https://gridfree.store/pages/gift-of-freedom-program