| 21 Making a stand for our Community Northpower’s primary focus is on helping to fuel economic growth in Northland, says CEO Andrew McLeod. The company has been doing this in a number of ways – both directly and indirectly. The most obvious is Northpower’s on-going investment in infrastructure. It owns the local electricity network supplying power to more than 60,000 homes and businesses. It also owns the high-speed ibre network delivering internet services to some 20,000 customers. This has seen Northpower invest signi icant amounts annually in its networks with an expenditure plan of $250m over the next 10 years. “Investing in good quality infrastructure enables the region to ful il its potential economically,” says Andrew. Its investment in Northland also extends to providing locals with jobs and career pathways, says Andrew. Northpower employs around 380 sta locally in Northland and another approximately 1000 across the North Island in Northpower’s contracting teams. There is a focus on employing around 20 engineering cadets each year, giving young people a good opportunity to enter the electricity supply industry. We’re proud of the companies we have seen grow o the back of the investments we have made, Northdrill are a great example – they started with three people, and now employ more than 50 locals. They have built a great business o the back of our partnership with them in building our ibre network, we’re proud of their achievements and to have them as a partner. Northpower is unique in that it is a community owned business – fully owned by the people of Whangarei and the Kaipara. This means all pro its head straight back into the community, including signi icant discounts on customers’ electricity bills – around $11 12m per year. Giving back to the local community also takes place via various sponsorships and initiatives. Northpower sponsors the EPro8 Challenge, which sees students competing in the series of science and engineering-based events, Totokara Education Trust, which provides digital support to assist children’s learning, and Mahi Hauora (Healthy Homes) Northland’s primary health entity collaborating with whānau, iwi, community, health and social service providers to make Northland a healthier place to live. Northpower is also a key sponsor of the NorthChamber Northland Business Excellence Awards, which directly encourage and support local businesses to excel. It supports the Bream Head Conservation Trust and Northland Rescue Helicopters. With an eye to the future of the region, Northpower is also partnering with Transpower and Top Energy to assist Northland to become New Zealand’s irst Renewable Energy Zone pilot. “The region’s renewable potential has been recognised in a New Zealand wide consultation into Renewable Energy Zones being led by Transpower. Over the last two years Transpower, Top Energy and Northpower have received dozens of applications from generation developers totalling nearly two gigawatts of renewable generation. That’s enough to meet the power requirements of the region tenfold. It’s a huge opportunity for the region. It could see Northland go from being a huge importer of the nation’s electricity to being a signi icant exporter,” says Andrew. He says that increased local generation introduces more competition into the electricity wholesale market, reducing wholesale prices, and stimulating the local economy through investment in construction of generation and network infrastructure. Bene its include job creation and work force training as well as on-going employment opportunities in maintenance and operations. “It all comes back to our focus to support economic growth, opportunities and well-being in Northland.” COME AND CHECK US OUT 0800 367 2562 Whangarei Campus 17 Keyte Street, Kensington, Whangarei FULLTIME AND FLEXI OPTIONS AVALIABLE | TRAVEL ALLOWANCE | FREE DRIVER LICENCE START YOUR CAREER WITH US TODAY! NCEA and Foundation Early Childhood Hospitality IT and Computing Business Management Forces and Sport Retail and Customer Service
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