Partnership shines for solar project
At dawn on Monday, May 2, a karakia to bless the start of a Scanpower project to introduce solar power to the Oringi Business Park was held by Rangitane o Tamaki Nui a Rua to recognise the partnership of several local enterprises.
Close to 40 of those involved in the project were present including Mayor Tracey Collis, Scanpower board chairman Allan Benbow, Scanpower CEO Lee Bettles, Tu Mai Ra directors Darrin Apanui and Richard Jones, Callum Skeet, CEO of Eketahuna-based Lumina Solar, Peter Chapman of Coyote Electrical, Rangitane iwi chairwoman Mavis Mullins and kaumatua Manahi Paewai, and All About Scaffolding representatives.
After the karakia the group retired to the Scanpower staffroom for kai and korero during which the dignitaries expressed their excitement about the project.
Collis said the project with its local partners using local staff had every chance of success and set the example for Tararua.
Speaking for the Scanpower board, Benbow said the project was important to providing “one of the essential ingredients of good living — renewable energy to go with good water and good food”.
He said the more we move into renewable energy the better and Bettles confirmed this saying he “hoped it will not be long before we can look back to the time when we did away with fossil fuels”.
Skeet, who was the project designer and manager, explained contracting the Rangitane owned Tu Mai Ra Energy company to install the panels with guidance from Aucklandbased Coyote Electrical and employing Woodvill-based All About Scaffolding to make the site safe was a win for all.
Tu Mai Ra director Jones explained investment of Treaty money was a challenging responsibility as iwi would expect good results but he was confident they had made the right choice and having Taurau as the energy arm’s general manager was a boost.
The latter traced Tu Mai Ra’s growth over two years as it grew in contracts and expertise.
Chapman of Coyote Electrical confirmed Tu Mai Ra’s credentials and said working with it in previous projects, including Mavis Mullins’ woolshed, gave him confidence it could do the job.
Mullins replied the relationship felt so right: “You are us and we are you.”
She was thrilled most of the dozen employed on the project were Rangitane employees who will develop skills and experience for the future.
Project details
● 802 solar panels generating 365 kilowatts of power will be installed on the cold store roof at Oringi
● They will generate 4.6 megawatt/ hours of energy per year enough for more than 600 houses
● The power will be sold to Oringi Business Park clients
● Production by solar will save 79 tonnes of carbon from entering the atmosphere per year.
● Installation will start in a week when All About Scaffolding erects access to the roof
● Tu Mai Ra will take about six weeks to install the solar panels barring supply issues