Celebrating 15 years at Harrison Drive

Fifteen years ago, we moved into our newly built depot on Harrison Drive in Te Awamutu, a milestone that marked the end of one era and the beginning of another for our team.

This purpose-built facility brought our operations together under one modern roof, giving us the space and capability to deliver the technological and service improvements that have shaped the decade since.

Before then, we had operated out of the old depot on Alexandra Street for 84 years — first as the Te Awamutu Electric Power Board, before becoming Waipā Power Ltd and later Waipā Networks, following our amalgamation with the Cambridge Electric Power Board in 1993.

Since opening the Harrison Drive depot on 3 December 2010, both the business and the communities we serve have grown significantly. The Waipā district alone has seen more than 30% population growth and is now home to over 58,000 people. Because our network extends into Kāwhia, Tamahere and surrounding rural areas, we now support more than 60,000 people across over 29,000 active connections.

To keep pace with this growth, our network has expanded and strengthened. Today, more than 22,000 poles and 3,785 transformers help deliver 439 GWh of electricity across the region, alongside an increasing number of underground cables as we continue to modernise our assets.

Earlier this year, we also introduced 33kV to our network — a major step in building a higher-capacity sub-transmission backbone that supports future growth, decarbonisation, and greater electrification.

Our expanding infrastructure reflects not just scale, but a shift towards a more resilient, modern network supported by smarter asset management and ongoing investment.

As customer demand and project volumes have increased, so too has our team. More than 100 of us now work from the Harrison Drive depot, supporting upgrades, major projects, field services, and the everyday work that keeps power flowing across the Waipā district and beyond.

Over time, the depot has become more than just a building. It’s become part of who we are, as recognisable as our branded vehicles and the crests our people wear with pride.

Every morning, the roll-out of utes and trucks signals the start of another day across the network, while inside, teams plan shutdowns, order equipment, monitor connections, and work closely with suppliers, stakeholders and customers, the owners of the network.

As we near the end of our 100-year celebrations, and with the refurb starting to take shape, it feels fitting to acknowledge this milestone and the role this building has played in supporting our shared purpose.

It’s a reminder of how far we’ve come, and of the foundations we’re laying today to support a resilient, reliable and innovative network for the future.