New Zealand Engineering Excellence Awards

Two Fiji projects announced finalists in NZ Engineering Excellence Awards

17 October 2007

Wainikasou Hydro Power Project and Rehabilitation and Upgrading of King's Wharf were announced category finalists in the New Zealand Engineering Excellence Awards.

David Elms, Convenor for the NZEE Category Awards judging panel said the calibre of finalist projects highlighted the contribution that professional engineers make to New Zealand on a social, economic and environmental scale.

“These projects made the finalist cut because they each are outstanding examples of engineering innovation”, says David Elms, Convenor for the NZEE Category Awards judging panel. “This year’s finalists impressed the judges by demonstrating how their projects contributed to the national economy and the reputation of New Zealand engineering and impacted on quality of life in their communities”.
Wainikasou Hydro Power Project and Rehabilitation and Upgrading of King’s Wharfis are two of 22 category finalists.

Wainikasou Hydro Power Project – The Wainikasou power project, completed by MWH, is a new run-of-river hydro-electric scheme built in the jungle clad highlands of central Viti Levu, Fiji. In an unconventional role for this type of project consulting engineer MWH NZ Limited was responsible for all engineering aspects of the project, from conceptual design and investigations, through to detailed design, software development, construction supervision and commissioning.

Rehabilitation and Upgrading of King’s Wharf – Constructed in 1963, King’s Wharf in Suva is the largest port in Fiji and the ‘lifeline’ to the capital and surrounding region in the event of a natural disaster. Multidisciplinary engineering consultancy Beca, assisted by sub-consultants Maunsell Australia Pty Ltd, and Erasito Consultants Ltd, completed upgrades on the wharf to: cope with increasing outgoing cargo; replace an aged wharf apron with an increased structural capacity to support future developments. This work has been recognised in the Roads and Transport Category.

The third New Zealand Engineering Excellence Awards are the premier awards for the engineering professionals of New Zealand. The awards are presented in two major areas: Individual Awards, that recognise leadership, innovation, 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.

Winners will be announced at a black tie gala dinner hosted by legendary entertainer Frankie Stevens. This year’s event will take place on Wednesday, 21 November 2007 at TE PAPA, Wellington.

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).

Media enquiries contact:

Verona-Meiana Putaranui, NZEE Awards Media Co-ordinator

Email: media@ipenz.org.nz

Phone: +64 4 473 2028 or Cell: +64 21 479885