THE 1970s

The 1970s were a transformative decade for McKay, marked by international opportunity and the emergence of the next generation of leadership, all against a backdrop of significant social, economic, and technological change in New Zealand.

Early in the decade, Joe Faithfull saw a chance to partner on the major Rarotonga Airport expansion, despite the company never having worked overseas. To assess the project, Joe undertook an arduous reconnaissance trip from Invercargill to Whangarei, then Samoa, and finally Rarotonga – returning the very next morning. The journey was gruelling, but it secured McKay’s first overseas contract.

At home, McKay Electrical Whangārei opened a small retail shop in Kamo in 1972, managed by Arthur Hood. Its opening coincided with the arrival of colour television in New Zealand, just in time for Princess Anne’s wedding. Locals could see the royal celebrations in vivid colour, while McKay’s shop became a hub for the community, selling electrical goods and appliances that reflected the country’s modernising lifestyle. The store later moved to larger premises at the corner of Kamo and Station Roads and eventually incorporated a video library in the early 1980s.

The decade also saw the next generation of the Faithfull family enter the business. In 1977, Lindsay Faithfull watched McKay employee Noel Driver assist his father with the electrics of the family caravan. Captivated by the skill on display, Lindsay decided he wanted to become an electrician. His father was delighted, though his mother was more hesitant. Lindsay reassured her that he would also study engineering at university. That same year, he began his apprenticeship under the NZCE pathway, combining practical training with evening correspondence study.

Nationally, New Zealand was changing rapidly. The 1973 and 1978–79 oil crises drove fuel shortages and economic challenges, while local soap operas like Pukemanu and Close to Home brought authentic Kiwi voices to television screens. The fully operational national electricity grid supplied nearly the entire population, creating strong demand for McKay’s services and expertise.

KEY LEADERSHIP OF THE DECADE

Tom McKay

Role:: Director
Start :: 1936
End:: 1982

Tom McKay was the founder of McKay Limited, a pioneering entrepreneur whose resilience, leadership and vision built the foundations of one of New Zealand’s most enduring electrical contracting businesses.

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Joe Faithfull

Role:: Director
Starting role:: Apprentice
Start Date:: 1944
End Date:: 2015

Joe Faithfull was the driving force behind McKay’s growth into a national and international electrical powerhouse, a visionary leader whose innovation, work ethic and belief in people transformed a small Northland business into one of New Zealand’s largest privately owned electrical companies.

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