The South Island

Over the years, McKay earned a strong reputation as a trusted provider of streetlighting and traffic signal solutions for local authorities and private clients across New Zealand. This reputation was built on a long-standing ability to deliver nationally, with McKay working in and out of the South Island for nearly 60 years, regularly relocating teams as required to support major projects and regional demand. By the early 2010s, under former Hamilton Regional Manager, Ryan Van Vuuren, the team managed streetlighting maintenance contracts for several councils, including South Waikato, Hauraki, and Matamata–Piako. When a tender opportunity arose with Queenstown Lakes District Council, Ryan submitted a bid and won – creating the momentum that led to McKay opening its first South Island branch in Cromwell in 2019.

Jacques Odendaal relocated from Hamilton to Cromwell to establish operations and deliver the contract. As opportunities grew, so did the need for a dedicated team. Leadership transitioned from Ryan to Lauren Faithfull in 2022, and later to Ross Butler, who brought a renewed customer-first focus to the region.

The branch steadily broadened its scope, delivering one-off and ongoing projects while strengthening relationships with councils, contractors, and local partners. These include car park upgrades with Stewart Civil, bus shelter lighting for Downer, streetlighting support for HEB Construction, and a trusted partnership with Central Otago District Council.

Major projects have further cemented McKay’s reputation. The Kōwhai Park Solar Farm project is due for completion in early 2026, while the Dunedin Hospital redevelopment is expected to resume in the same year.

At peak times, McKay anticipates around one hundred electrical workers on site for the NDH Inpatient Building – a scale that reflects both the importance of the project and McKay’s capability to deliver.

This foundation has been vital in building McKay’s presence across Otago and beyond. Today, the South Island is entering an exciting new chapter under newly appointed Regional Manager Becky Thompson. As Ross noted, “there was a need for boots on the ground in this region; otherwise, it was not going to grow like we know it can.”

Becky now oversees regional growth, operational leadership, client relationships, and business development, working closely with clients, partners, and the wider McKay team to strengthen the company’s position and drive expansion.

Born in the UK, Becky followed in her father’s footsteps and qualified as an electrician, working 13 years in the trade before retraining as a Quantity Surveyor. Her career spans senior commercial roles across construction, civil, and electrical services, most recently at Fletcher Higgins. When the Queenstown Regional

Manager role became available, she embraced the opportunity to return to electrical work in a position offering improved work–life balance and continued development. The Queenstown branch remains a small but capable team of three, yet the region’s potential is enormous. Becky describes the team as skilled, committed, and eager to take on a broad range of work. Tendering activity is strong, with opportunities spanning commercial and educational projects, EV infrastructure, and water services.

McKay Queenstown is particularly energised by the region’s push towards electrification. The Queenstown Electrification Accelerator (QEA), a community-led initiative aiming to make the city the ‘world’s most electrified destination’, is already making meaningful progress. Electrification efforts extend beyond residential applications to businesses, tourism, and the wider visitor economy. McKay’s expertise in electrical infrastructure and renewable energy positions the branch strongly within this evolving landscape.

Emerging technologies such as vehicle-to-grid (V2G) integration, present further opportunities, aligning with McKay’s innovative focus and enabling cutting-edge solutions.

Another exciting prospect is the Scott Base redevelopment in Antarctica, which includes specialised electrical work for a new accommodation building and major plant upgrades. This tender could showcase the very best of what the South Island team can deliver, with outcomes expected later this year.

McKay’s South Island presence is evolving from a small foothold into a platform for meaningful, long-term growth. Through deep regional understanding and a forward-looking approach to innovation, Becky is positioning McKay to seize opportunities across cities, sectors, and emerging technologies – ensuring the South Island becomes not just part of McKay’s story, but a driving force in its future.