MainPower crew proves they’re the best in New Zealand

Friday 5 October 2018

North Canterbury electricity distributors, MainPower New Zealand Limited, took out the top awards at the 2018 Annual Connection Excellence Awards held on Thursday 4 October in Christchurch. MainPower won both the Line Mechanic and Cable Jointer competitions, the first time in history they have won both competitions.

The MainPower line mechanics team, Del Smith (manager), Johnny Wilson, Gavin Bell, Rodney Phillips, and Brett Hancox, were the overall winners of the 2018 Line Mechanic Competition and Kirk McDonald was the overall winner of the 2018 Cable Jointer Competition. James Ardagh also performed incredibly well for his first Cable Jointer competition.

MainPower also won the Teamwork, Pole Installation, Line Build and Drive categories.

MainPower Chief Executive Andy Lester explains what it means to MainPower.

“We are extremely proud of how our MainPower team performed, especially when you see the high calibre of the teams they were competing against. They worked together to make it happen. The quality of their work, the commitment and passion and the great teamwork were something everyone at MainPower strives to achieve every day.”

Lester adds that the team that competed at the event were a true representation of the entire MainPower operation.

“We are all very proud of them and their achievements. Winning was obviously great, but more important to me was the way we went about it.”

The annual competition sees the best line mechanics and cable jointers from around New Zealand competing in an intense series of events over three days outdoors in a field adjacent to the Air Force Museum in Wigram.

Lester also noted that, “It was fantastic to get together as an entire industry and showcase the skills required by all of our amazing people who are often out there in challenging conditions including storms, wind and snow, working to keep the lights on throughout New Zealand.”

This year nine teams competed in the line mechanic competitions, with events including a pole top rescue, team building and first aid competitions. Ten individuals competed in the cable jointer competitions. The event was open to the public and is also a driver to attract more people to the electricity supply industry, which is short of skilled workers nationwide. It’s predicted that about 9,000 more staff will be required over the next five years.

Annual Connection is organised by Infrastructure Industry Training Organisation (ITO) Connexis.

Annual Connection also features a large supplier expo, before culminating with the industry’s Excellence Awards where Canterbury sporting legend, Super 15 coach Scott Robertson, was the keynote speaker.

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