News

Cleardale Visit 2011

The MainPower Trustees took a day out recently to visit MainPower New Zealand’s newest generation asset, the Cleardale Hydro.

For more information click on the link to the left for the full story.

MainPower Primary Schools Coaching Programme

The MainPower Trustees enthusiastically support the decision by MainPower New Zealand Ltd to sponsor the MainPower Primary Schools Coaching Programme.

The Primary School Coaching programme is an initiative developed by two graduates of the North Canterbury Community College.  The graduates who studied Sport and Recreation were keen to provide a solution to international research findings which suggested a world-wide reluctance for young people to become active in sport and recreation.

Graduates Scott Beckingsale and Ricki Jacob’s presentation to the North Canterbury Sport and Recreation Trust identified a process for getting primary school children inspired into physical activity.  Their concept of visiting schools on a rotational basis, with a vehicle full of sponsored sporting equipment, to help provide a consistent and simple sporting programme was well received.  Teachers have greeted the programme enthusiastically, and many have become involved and notice that through participation the students are more motivated in their classroom learning.

The programme was trialled with the support of SPARC and it soon became evident the concept had real merit.

MainPower New Zealand Limited shared the vision and committed to a sponsorship agreement that would see the programme spread across all primary schools in the MainPower region.

“Investing in the young people in the North Canterbury and Kaikoura region is a good thing for a community owned company to do”, say Tony Hall, MainPower Trust’s Chairman.  “Encouraging young people into sport and physical activity will increase their confidence to join sporting clubs and be part of our community at a social, competitive or administration level.  Without young people coming through our sports clubs cannot survive and a key part of our community will be lost.”

MainPower Trust 2010 AGM

The MainPower Trust Annual General Meeting took place on 23 August 2010 at Pegasus Town.   There was a good turnout of interested locals and present and past employees of MainPower. Senior management and Directors of MainPower New Zealand Limited were present.

To read the annual report presented by Trust Chairman, Tony Hall Click here. 

MainPower Trust 2009 AGM

The MainPower Trust AGM took place on Monday 31 August, 2009 at the St John Ambulance Hall in Amberley. There was a good turnout of interested locals and present and past employees of MainPower. The Directors of MainPower New Zealand Limited were also present.

In the absence of the Trust Chairman, Tony Hall, Deputy Chair Richard Allison presented the MainPower Trust Chairman's Annual Report.

Mr Allison said "The MainPower Trust AGM was, as usual, combined with the MainPower New Zealand's AGM for 2009. This year they were held in Amberley and both were positive and successful meetings."

"Having combined AGM's provides an excellent opportunity for MainPower Management and Trustees to review the past year withMainPower customers in different locations around our community", Mr Allison said. "It is an excellent chance to provide an update on initiatives and be answerable to any questions".

Mr Allison invites you to read the Chairman's report covering the past financial year of the MainPower Trust.

MainPower Trust By-election 2009 - Election Results

The results of the MainPower Trust By-election held on Friday 27 February 2009 to elect two Trustees are as follows:

Candidates - Votes Received

Tony Hall – 3,824

Kevin Brookfield – 2,422

Nigel Jones – 2,352

MurrayClarke – 1,531

Brian Woolsey - 922

Tony Hall and Kevin Brookfield are therefore elected as Trustees for the MainPower Trust.

MainPower Trust to hold Special Election - December 2008

"A recent amendment to the Commerce Act has left the MainPower Trust with little alternative but to change its Trust Deed if the local lines company, MainPower New Zealand Limited is to maintain its 'consumer-owned' status," said Mr Tony Hall, Chairman of the MainPower Trust.

The MainPower Trust was established in 1995 and holds 100% of the ownership of MainPower New Zealand Limited. The MainPower Trust's ownership of MainPower New Zealand Limited forms part of the Trust Fund held on behalf of the Trust beneficiaries, the Qualifying Customers of MainPower and the North Canterbury and Kaikoura communities", said Mr Hall.

"In future, trust-owned line companies such as MainPower will only qualify as being consumer-owned and therefore exempt certain regulatory requirements, if all trustees are elected by consumers," he said. "The MainPower Trust's, Trust Deed currently provides for five elected trustees and two appointed trustees," he said.

Trustees, acting on legal advice, have agreed to increase the number of elected trustees to seven, while at the same time removing the need for appointed trustees. A trustee election for the two new elected positions will be held during March 2009 and nominations will be called during January.

"The Directors of MainPower New Zealand Limited have also obtained independent legal advice in respect of the legislative changes imposed on line companies, and have advised the Trust that retention of the Company's consumer-owned status by way of Trust ownership would be in the best interests of the Company and therefore in the best interests of its customers," said Mr Hall

"Nearly all trust-owned line companies in New Zealand already qualify as being consumer-owned", he said. Mr Hall said that as one of the two appointed trustees, he is happy to stand down from the appointed position and to face an election.

23 December 2008.

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If further information is required, please contact MainPower Trust Chairman, Tony Hall, phone (03) 313 5496 or MainPower Managing Director, Allan Berge, phone (03) 311 8302

MainPower Trustees visit Windflow Technology - 5th November 2008

Recently Trustees of the MainPower Trust visited Windflow Technology in Christchurch to look at the development of the New Zealand manufactured wind turbines. 

MainPower New Zealand, the company owned by the MainPower Trust on behalf of the community, has considered Windflow Technology as one of the potential suppliers of wind turbines for the Mt Cass Wind Farm in North Canterbury and has included Windflow in their resource consent.

Windflow Technology is a global innovator in wind power turbine design, development and manufacturing and is known for its torque limiting gearbox which is designed to withstand the uneven wind gusts experienced in wind farms internationally.  Windflow Technology assembles their turbines at their Mandeville Street assembly plant in Christchurch.

Trustees were given a guided tour of the factory and had the benefits of Windflow turbines explained to them.

The Trusts objective is to keep up with trends in renewable energy generation that link with the MainPower New Zealand Generation Strategy.

Deputy chair of the Trust, Richard Allison said he was pleased to see 90% of the parts are New Zealand made.  “It’s great to see a young business with so much potential in our back yard”, said Richard.

Left to right:  Todd Mead, (Commercial Manager, MainPower New Zealand Ltd)

Max Smith (Trustee), Tony Hall, (Trust Chair), Jim Abernethy (Trustee),

Trevor Burt (Director, MainPower New Zealand Ltd), Richard Allison (Trustee)

And Brent Hassall (Trustee)

MainPower Trustees visit to Meridians Te Apiti Wind Farm

Members of the MainPower Local Generation team and MainPower Trust trustees visited Meridians  Te Apiti Wind Farm. Conditions were perfect for renewable energy generation  with members at times struggling to stand against the wind. 

The group later visited the New Zealand manufactured Wind Flow 500 turbines which were equally impressive.

A follow up visit to the Wind Flow factory in Christchurch is planned by the Trustees. With electricity generation and reticulation restraints now a reality, Trustees wish to keep up to date on sustainable and renewable energy initiatives.

MainPower Trust AGM - August 2008

This years AGM was held on the 25th August 2008 at the Kaiapoi Workingmens Club.

Tony Hall is the new MainPower Trust Chairman - March 2008

Brent Hassall has retired from the position of Chairman although he remains on as a trustee. Brent was first elected to the North Canterbury Electric Power Board in 1986 as one of the Rangiora Borough representatives. After the restructuring of the industry in the early 1990's, Brent was appointed to the first MainPower Trust and was subsequently elected chairman of the 1995 MainPower Trust. He has continued in that post until this year.

Tony Hall has been appointed as the new chairman. Tony has been a trustee of the trust since May 2003.

New Trustee - Jim Abernethy - March 2008

Jim Abernethy is the newly elected trustee of the MainPower Trust. Jim has a long standing interest in our North Canterbury and Kaikoura electricity supply. He has resided in Cheviot for 40 years. His company Cheviot Lime Co Limited was the biggest user of electricity in the Cheviot District for many years.

Jim's other interests are Cheviot Licensing Trust member, Chairman of the Cheviot Domain Board, Deputy Chief Cheviot Volunteer Fire Brigade, Cheviot Lions Club and NZ Road Transport Councillor.

Since moving to Kaikoura his community service includes 3 years as County Councillor, 12 years as a Kaikoura Member of the Marlborough Harbour Board, 6 years as Mayor of Kaikoura. He has also completed 25 years as a volunteer Fire Brigade retiring as Chief Fire Officer and 22 years as a Marriage Celebrant.

Jim is happily married to Marilyn and has 4 adult children and 7 grandchildren.

MainPower Trust 2008 Trustee Election Results

The results of the election are as follows:

Candidates - Votes Received

Brent Hassall - 5,268

Jim Abernethy - 4,447

Kevin Brookfield - 1,948

Brian Woolsey - 1,124

Bruce Gordon - 809

Jim Abernethy and Brent Hassall are therefore elected as Trustees for the MainPower Trust.