Three months into his new job as chief executive of Pioneer Generation, Fraser Jonker is enjoying the challenge of his new role.
Mr Jonker (43) was formerly general manager regional contracting for Auckland-based company Northpower.
Like Pioneer Generation, which is owned by the Central Lakes Trust, Northpower is also owned by a trust.
"The two are similar in terms of business and structure," Mr Jonker said.
The difference between them was that Pioneer Generation generated electricity, while Northpower was purely a distributor of it, he said.
He had two main reasons for taking on the position at Pioneer Generation. As chief executive, it was a step up in his career; but it was also about a lifestyle change. Mr Jonker's last job required a lot of travel.
"It got to the point that it [travel] was getting too much and I wasn't spending enough time at home. This role suited me perfectly."
Mr Jonker lives on a lifestyle block between Alexandra and Clyde with his wife and two children, aged 16 and 18.
"It's quiet and peaceful. We've got the ability to have a few chooks and sheep. I love it here. The people are friendly and have time for each other. It's nice to be able to walk into a shop and talk to people."
A self-employed engineering consultant in his homeland, Mr Jonker has been in New Zealand for seven years. He has a degree in electrical engineering and a postgraduate diploma in business management.
The biggest challenge in his new job was to help Pioneer Generation grow, he said.
"The foundations have already been laid, so the business has the expertise to take on significant investment opportunities to generate electricity. The challenge is to achieve that growth, while at the same time showing that Pioneer Generation is a responsible operator that can work in harmony with the environment and the community."
Although the electricity the company generates today comes from hydro schemes, it is looking at wind farm optionstoo.
Last month, the company announced it would build a nine-turbine wind farm at Mt Stuart, near Milton, worth $17 million. Work on the farm is due to begin in April.
Pioneer had other sites for wind and hydro developments in mind, Mr Jonker said.
One of those is the Nevis River. Pioneer Generation and organisations that oppose its plans to dam the river, the New Zealand and Otago Fish and Game councils and Whitewater New Zealand, have been asked by the court to go into mediation to try to reduce the number of issues the court has to rule on.
Mr Jonker said he would welcome the opportunity to speak to those organisations, as his company had a history of working with communities for the good of the environment.
He cited Pioneer's dam at Monowai, in Southland, as a prime example.
"We work with the guardians of the lake to find a balance between the environment and generating electricity. We have to manage the environment around the lake, and fish and eel movements through the [Waiau] river. We're working to restore the river to its original state and if it's not generating electricity, there's no money to do that."
Pioneer Generation had a huge responsibility to show people it could work with the environment and stakeholders in the community, he said.
"So I'm looking forward to getting people around the table and talking with them."
