Te Awamutu family’s 92-year legacy of keeping the lights on in Waipā

For over 92 years, three generations of one family have been a steadfast presence in the Waipā district’s energy story.

They’ve braved storms, crossed rivers, and climbed poles in the dark. They’ve answered the call whenever Waipā needed power restored. And their legacy is one of resilience, service, and generational pride.

The Muraahi name has become etched into the backbone of Waipā Networks, with grandfather Albert, son Lloyd, and grandson Gary dedicating a combined 92 years to the essential, often unseen work of line mechanics.

Now 83, Te Awamutu local and former Waipā Networks linesman, Albert, known to most as Albie, looks back fondly on his 35 years with the Te Awamutu Power Board (now Waipā Networks), reflecting on how it all began, how the industry has evolved, and how it will move forward.

Albie recalls a time when the job demanded raw grit and improvisation. Health and safety were more instinct than protocol, and tools were whatever you could carry or swim with.

“We had a job in Honikiwi. Pole down across the river. No bridge. So, I swam across with a rope, tied a bit of wire to a tree on the other side. That’s how we got our gear over. Dug a new hole, pushed the pole back up, built her up. Farmer was happy.”

While Albie admits that method wouldn’t pass today, the principles remain the same: safety, teamwork, and getting the job done.

“One day, one of the bosses came out to the site without a helmet. I asked who he was. Didn’t care. Told him to put a hat on or get lost. That’s the way it was, no exceptions.”

In 1986, the Muraahi name doubled on the payroll when Alby’s son Lloyd joined the Power Board. Nearly 40 years later, Lloyd is now the second-longest serving employee at Waipā Networks.

Albie and Lloyd worked side by side for over a decade before Alby left in 1998. During that time, Lloyd’s son Gary began to take notice.

“I remember getting picked up by the line truck from about three years old. Every Friday was go-cart poles day,” Gary recalls.

Years later, Gary left a factory job in Hamilton and joined the family legacy.

“I told Dad I was throwing it in. He said he’d try to get me a job. Got the call, got the interview, and I already knew most of the team. They were like family, like uncles. The rest is history.”

Now, both team leaders, Lloyd and Gary, have seen the industry evolve. From minimal PPE to maximum, from climbing ladders to bucket trucks. But the heart of the job remains.

“It’s still the same job. We’ve got more modern equipment, but it’s done the same way. Safety is paramount. You’ve got to be mindful of everything – your teammates, the public. It hangs on your shoulders if something goes wrong.”

And the legacy looks set to continue. Gary’s three-year-old son is already showing signs of following in the family’s footsteps, with pride and curiosity that echo through generations.

“Every day he talks about it. ‘Dad, you going to go fix the power pole today?’ As soon as I get home, he asks, ‘Did you fix the power pole today?’ Then it’s, ‘I’m going to come in your big work truck tomorrow, Dad. One day, son.”

With six kids of his own and six chances of one of them being a line mechanic, Gary is pretty confident in the chances of extending the legacy beyond three generations.

“I’m just so proud of these two, proud of where they’ve been and what they’ve achieved,” Lloyd states emotionally.

As Waipā Networks celebrates over 100 years of powering communities, the Muraahi family stands as a living testament to the values that built it. Resilience, service, and generational pride.

From Albies river crossings to Gary’s son dreaming of riding in the big work truck, their story is more than a legacy; it’s a reflection of the people behind the poles and the heart behind the wires.

Waipā Networks Chief Executive, Sean Horgan, says the Muraahi story is a reminder of the people who’ve shaped the network’s journey.

“The Muraahi family represents everything we stand for. Commitment, community, and continuity. Their story is woven into the fabric of Waipā Networks, and it’s families like theirs who’ve kept the lights on for generations.”

This October, Waipā Networks will honour its centenary with a celebration for staff and former staff, including the Muraahi family, whose dedication has helped shape the region’s energy story.

It’s a moment to reflect, reconnect, and recognise the people who’ve kept the lights on in Waipā for generations.