Connecting with community at the Kāwhia Kai Festival

The Waipā Networks team was proud to be part of this year’s Kāwhia Kai Festival, joining thousands of people in Kāwhia this month to celebrate culture, community and, of course, great kai.

As a local electricity network provider for Waipā and the King Country rohe, being at the festival was a great opportunity for our team to get out into the community, meet people face‑to‑face and listen to what matters most to them. Throughout the day, our staff enjoyed relaxed kōrero with locals, answered questions about the network, and heard firsthand about the challenges and opportunities people see for the future.

With the smell of hāngī, smoked seafood and sweet treats drifting through the air, there was no shortage of reasons to linger. Our team made the most of the chance to sample some of the incredible kai on offer while soaking up the atmosphere of an event many were happy to see return.

“It was wonderful to see the Kāwhia Kai Festival back after a long break following the pandemic,” says Anna Watson, General Manager Customer and Community.

“The crowds were relaxed, the weather played its part, and it created a really natural setting for genuine conversations and new local connections.”

For Waipā Networks, being present at events like this is about more than just showing up. Anna says the insights shared by festivalgoers help inform how the business plans for the future.

“Taking the time to listen to our communities helps us understand what’s important to our customers,” she says. “Those conversations directly influence how we continue to deliver a reliable, resilient and equitable electricity network across our region.”

The team also gathered valuable feedback about future power needs, which will help shape upcoming network upgrades and long-term infrastructure investment.

“We’re grateful for the chats and the hospitality shown to our team,” Anna says.

“Building strong relationships with our communities is essential, and we’re looking forward to being part of the Kāwhia Kai Festival again in the future.”