New South Waikato National Grid Connection a step closer

Powerco is a step closer to starting construction of a $33m project to ensure electricity supply in the South Waikato is reliable now and in the future – and they’re coming to the region to talk to customers about it.

The South Waikato National Grid Connection will create a new source of electricity supply to serve the growing Putāruru, Tīrau and Hinuera communities.  

Currently around 11,500 homes and businesses in the area rely on a single Transpower line at Hinuera for their power, which means there is total loss of supply to customers when the line is out for maintenance or has a fault.  

The new Powerco connection will be a combination of underground cable and overhead line between Transpower’s Arapuni substation and Powerco’s Putāruru substation.  

Once built, supply to customers will continue uninterrupted when the Transpower line is out of service.  

Customer and Communications Strategy Manager Oliver Vincent says the time is right to update the community.   

“We last visited the community to talk about the project late last year. Since then we’ve been working with the South Waikato District Council, local iwi and landowners to finalise the route and fine-tune the detailed design,” he says.  

“With construction due to start later this year, we’re holding two public sessions to provide the latest information about the project and an opportunity to chat with the team and ask questions. Anyone is welcome to come along and hear about why this project is so important for their region.”   

The public information sessions are being held on Monday 28 June as follows:  

Arapuni 

9am – 11am 

Arapuni Hall 

49 Arapuni Road 

 

Putāruru 

12.30pm – 4.30pm 

Te Mātauranga o Korekore Conference Centre 

4 – 6 Glenshea Street