The Accidental Dream Home
Michael and his wife Shaz weren’t planning on buying land in Raglan—it just kind of happened. “We actually discovered this piece of land by accident,” he says. One drive past a 'For Sale' sign later, and they’d made what some might call an impulsive decision. But, as it turns out, it was the best decision they could have made.
The land became their weekend project for four years, a place to escape Auckland’s chaos while they worked on turning their dream into reality. With Raglan’s strong, down-to-earth community, they knew they’d found the perfect spot.
Building Off-Grid—By Choice and By Necessity
If you’ve ever looked into getting power to a remote property, you’ll know it can cost a small fortune. Michael’s neighbour had looked into it before—they were quoted around $200,000 to get hooked up to the grid. So, off-grid was the only way.
But Michael wasn’t just forced into it; off-grid living had always appealed to him. The idea of self-sufficiency, lower costs, and a more sustainable lifestyle just made sense. The challenge was finding a solar system that worked both practically and financially. After plenty of research, Michael landed on GridFree’s Tui Solar Nest—an all-in-one solar kit that fit the bill without breaking the bank.
"I saw some systems that were over $50,000, which was way out of our price range. But The Tui Solar Nest was in the early $20,000s, which made it doable for us."
A Home Built for Comfort (and the Occasional Wild Weather)
Michael’s house might be compact, but it’s well thought out. The vaulted ceilings give it a spacious feel, and the concrete floors—originally chosen for cost reasons—have turned out to be a fantastic decision. Not only do they make the house solid as a rock (important when those famous west coast winds pick up), but they also hold heat well, keeping things cozy in winter.
Speaking of warmth, they went all in on their fireplace. “We over-specced it,” Michael laughs. “It’s rated for a 150-square-metre house, and ours is only 78. But we love the heat!”
Life on Solar Power
So, does the off-grid setup actually work? In short—absolutely. Despite Raglan’s share of cloudy days, Michael’s system has so far never dropped below 75% battery, even after several days without sunshine.
“We have zero issues. It’s just been absolutely phenomenal. Even with multiple cloudy days, we’ve never had a power problem. Either we don’t use much power, or the system is just awesome. I think it’s the latter!”
Of course, off-grid living does come with some changes. Being mindful of power use is key, but Michael sees that as a positive. "It teaches you to appreciate energy as a finite resource. Nothing is infinite, and being aware of that is actually really rewarding."
Working the Dream Job
For Michael, living off-grid isn’t just about his lifestyle—it’s also part of his work. As editor and publisher of On The Land magazine, he shares stories of Kiwis living self-sufficient, rural lives.
“When I saw the job listing, it was like they had pulled all my thoughts from my head. It just spoke to me. So, I took the plunge and bought the magazine.”
Now, he gets to live the lifestyle he writes about—talking to other off-grid legends, sharing their journeys, and proving that it’s possible to live comfortably while being self-sufficient.
Advice for Aspiring Off-Gridders
Michael’s top tip for anyone considering going off-grid? Do your research and talk to people.
“There are some incredibly clever, resilient Kiwis living off-grid and doing everything they want to do—just without the power bill, and they get to be more self-sufficient. So I think it's incredibly rewarding place to live. And it's just a matter of meeting people and talking to them. And learning as much as you can and letting that inspiration guide you."
And if you’re thinking about solar? Michael gives The Tui Solar Nest a big thumbs up.
"The experience working with GridFree was overwhelmingly positive. They were helpful. The team were helpful through every interaction. Able to walk me through all the technical details."
The Best Decision Ever
Looking back, does Michael regret leaving city life behind? Not for a second.
“It's just amazingly beautiful. And that makes it all worthwhile. And, the feeling we got when we were here just visiting was incredible. And that feeling has sustained since we've moved here."
Want to hear more of Michael’s work story? Check out his interview with 7 Sharp to see his magazine editor job in action!