Transpower reigns Supreme at 2007 New Zealand Engineering Excellence Awards
A project that improved the security of electricity-supply to South Island homes and businesses earned electricity
supplier Transpower the 2007 New Zealand Engineering Excellence Awards Supreme Winner Award.
Transpower’s “Tower Foundation Strengthening – Upper South Island Grid Upgrade” project was completed by Construction
Techniques Group Ltd. The project also picked up a gong for Category B: Utilities, Networks and Amenities.
The project involved upgrading transmission tower foundations over a 450-kilometre route in the upper South Island. Much
of the line followed a remote and bleak path from Hanmer to St Arnaud, passing through Island Saddle which, at 1,370
metres (or 4,500 feet), is the highest road crossing in the country.
The grid upgrade project scored highly on all judging criteria, and the judges unanimously agreed it was a truly
excellent example of engineering at its best.
“The integrity of the power grid is vital to New Zealand’s economy, and the project was clearly of significant national
importance,” said David Elms DistFIPENZ, Convenor of the Category Awards judging panel.
He says the judges were particularly impressed by the calibre of both the technical and logistical management over an
extended site.
The third New Zealand Engineering Excellence Awards are the premier awards for New Zealand engineering professionals.
The awards are presented in two major areas: Individual Awards, that recognise leadership, entrepreneurship, and our
young engineers; and Category Awards, that recognise achievement in the various industry areas, together with a Supreme
Award for the best of the Category winners.
The New Zealand Engineering Excellence Awards are hosted by a consortium of five partners and 10 contributing
organisations. The partners are: Centre for Advanced Engineering (CAE); Association of Local Government Engineering New
Zealand Incorporated (INGENIUM); Electricity Engineers Association of New Zealand (EEA); Association of Consulting
Engineers New Zealand (ACENZ); and the Institution of Professional Engineers New Zealand Inc (IPENZ).
ENDS