Power cuts in New Zealand rarely give much warning. A storm rolls through, a line goes down, and the house is dark before you've found a torch that works. This is the lighting gear worth keeping ready before that happens, not after.
Everything on this page is chosen for one job: working when the power doesn't. Rechargeable options that hold charge on standby, spare batteries for backup, and lights suited to different rooms, vehicles and situations around the home.
Torches for power outages
A dedicated torch outperforms a phone light by a wide margin once you actually need one, and preserves precious phone battery for emergency communications. Look for long and reliable runtime on low beam and sound weatherproofing, since outages often come with wet weather.
Headlamps for hands-free emergencies
Checking a switchboard, finding the fuse box, or moving supplies in the dark all become easier with both hands free. A headlamp stays put and points where you're looking, which a handheld torch can't do.
Lanterns for whole-room light
A single torch beam is fine for moving around, but a lantern lights an entire room, so the whole household isn't sharing one narrow beam. The versatile ML6 Connect Warm Light Rechargeable Lantern doubles as a power bank, so it can keep a phone charged too.
Spare batteries and chargers
The most common outage mistake is having the right torch with no charge left in it. Keep a spare battery or two on hand for your specific model, and consider a power bank style light that charges other devices as well as itself. Battery-operated emergency supplies should be periodically tested and used to maximise battery life. It is recommended that charged devices be stored long-term at 40%-60% charge to maintain optimum lifespan of the battery.
Building an emergency lighting kit
A solid setup covers more than one location:
Rechargeable
A rechargeable torch kept in the house, ideally somewhere fixed like a kitchen drawer
A second torch or lantern in the car
Hands Free
A headlamp for hands-free jobs like checking the switchboard or setting up a generator
Spares
At least one spare battery for your most-used light
Keep torches topped up rather than waiting for a warning. Outages in NZ tend to arrive with a storm already in progress, not ahead of one.
Frequently asked questions
A rechargeable torch with long low-beam runtime and IP-rated weatherproofing is the safest bet, since NZ outages are usually storm-related. Keep it charged and stored somewhere the whole household knows.
Yes. A torch with a dead battery is no better than no torch at all. Keep at least one spare or a backup power bank matched to your model.
Both have a place. A torch is easier to hand to someone else or leave standing in a room, while a headlamp is better for jobs that need two free hands, like checking a switchboard or fuel line.
Look for at least 40 to 60 hours on low beam, so a single charge covers a multi-day outage. Longer runtime models are worth the extra cost for a primary household torch.
Some Ledlenser lanterns, including power bank style models, can charge a phone while still running as a light. Check the individual product spec for output.
