New Zealand Engineering Excellence Awards

Transpower reigns Supreme at 2007 New Zealand Engineering Excellence Awards

22 November 2007

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).

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