Local lines companies connect with rural communities at Fieldays

Waipā Networks joined three other lines companies at Fieldays for the first time this year, creating a shared space focused on safety, resilience and practical advice for rural communities.

Waipā Networks, The Lines Company, WEL Networks and Powerco came together on E Street, giving visitors one place to connect with several local electricity networks and ask questions about the things that matter to them.

The collaboration reflected how electricity distribution businesses stay connected behind the scenes, particularly during storms and outages, and reinforced the value of working together to support communities.

Over four days, the site provided an opportunity for farmers, contractors and rural families to have practical conversations about working safely around electricity infrastructure, managing vegetation near power lines, understanding faults and outages, and knowing who to contact when support is needed.

Anna Watson, General Manager Customer and Community at Waipā Networks, says being at Fieldays created a valuable opportunity to listen and connect directly with customers and communities.

“Fieldays gave us a great opportunity to meet people where they are and have practical conversations about safety and preparedness,” says Watson.

“Working alongside other electricity networks was also a valuable reminder that while each network serves its own area, many of the challenges and opportunities we hear about are shared.”

Visitors could also access tools designed to help them identify their local lines company and better understand the difference between their electricity retailer and network provider, an area that often causes confusion.

Watson says these conversations play an important role in building confidence and resilience in local communities.

“Whether people are working around machinery, planning contracting jobs, or preparing for an unplanned outage or weather event, it’s encouraging to see them taking the time to ask questions and understand how everything works,” she says.

“Staying connected across our sector helps us learn from each other and continue improving how we serve our communities.