WELLINGTON REGION

The establishment of the McKay Wellington branch was the result of deliberate planning and formed part of wider discussions about future growth. Exploring potential locations for another McKay branch within New Zealand. Wellington was identified as a strong strategic fit, supported by market demand, existing relationships, and long-term opportunity across multiple sectors.

Two parallel pathways were considered as part of this exploration. The first was the potential acquisition of an existing electrical business to provide an immediate foothold in the region. The second involved leveraging established industry relationships, with Ryan Van Vuuren, former Regional Infrastructure Manager, engaging directly with organisations such as Fulton Hogan to secure subcontract work. While a suitable business was identified, the acquisition did not proceed. In parallel, Fulton Hogan responded positively, and McKay began receiving work in the Wellington region, eventually securing the Porirua Streetlighting Contract.

With a strong track record delivering streetlighting maintenance at scale for both local government and private clients nationwide, McKay was well positioned to respond as opportunities gained momentum. Establishing a physical presence in the region allowed the business to deliver work effectively and at pace.

The Wellington branch began lean, with initial operations delivered by a single field team – a line mechanic, and an electrician, supported by an inspector, with oversight provided by Ryan Van Vuuren. As Auckland’s own streetlighting portfolio continued to grow, it became clear that Wellington would require dedicated, on-the-ground leadership to develop in a sustainable way.

Chane Botha, who worked closely alongside Ryan during the establishment phase, recalls how quickly the Wellington operation needed to find its feet following the award of the Porirua streetlighting maintenance contract with City Council. “We essentially started with one small team and built from there, finding the right people, preparing the trucks, and putting management in place,” she says. “It was a rapid turnaround.”

Over recent years, McKay has remained actively engaged in maintenance and streetlighting renewal

 projects across the Wellington region, including recent works along the Wellington waterfront with the City Council, a project focused on improving safety and visibility through upgraded, energy-efficient lighting, helping to create a safer and more welcoming environment for public use after dark.

Alongside this, McKay’s Major Projects team, working closely with the Wellington branch, is currently completing engineering design works for the Sludge Minimisation Plant, Te Whare Wai Para Nuku, at Moa Point. This work forms part of a wider programme of water and wastewater infrastructure projects across the region, drawing on McKay’s nationally established automation, instrumentation, and power systems capability to support the delivery of critical infrastructure for Wellington.

With sights also set on expanding its presence in port infrastructure, McKay is delivering electrical works at CentrePort Wellington, including full electrical scope and Main Switchboard (MSB) installations. This work supports critical port and wharf infrastructure, providing robust, industrial-grade electrical solutions suited to demanding operational environments.

With strong in-house capability and access to McKay’s wider national resources, the Wellington branch is a small but capable team, well positioned to support current contracts while responding to new opportunities as they emerge.

The focus now is on what comes next for the region, continuing to build capability, develop people, and strengthen McKay’s presence in Wellington. A key step in this next phase came in early 2025 with the appointment of Tim Manawaiti as Wellington Regional Manager. Tim’s arrival has brought new momentum to the region, with a strong emphasis on growing local capability, supporting the development of the team, and positioning McKay to play an even greater role in the delivery of critical infrastructure projects across Wellington and the wider lower North Island.