Aurora appoints contractors

Aurora Energy has appointed two new contractors to carry out maintenance, renewal and development work on its network.

Unison Networks Ltd, an electricity distribution and fibre-optic network company based in Hastings, and Connetics, based in Christchurch, have both won five-year contracts with the lines company.

Delta will continue as the principal contractor providing core field services, emergency and faults response, vegetation management and selected logistics services.

In a statement Aurora Energy chief executive Richard Fletcher said all three companies would carry out maintenance, renewal and development work; Unison Contracting in Dunedin, Connetics in Central Otago and Queenstown Lakes, and Delta across both areas.

The two new contracts start on April 1 next year, giving time for both companies to establish local bases.

Having two additional contractors based in the region would enhance the network's resiliency, as they would provide immediate support to Delta in response to emergencies such as major snow or windstorms, Mr Fletcher said.

Unison had already worked for Aurora on its fast-track pole programme.

A spokesman for Unison said the company planned to build a permanent base in Dunedin but how many new staff would be recruited was still being worked on.

Since 2016 workers from the North Island had been travelling south to work on Aurora's network on a rotational basis, he said.

Connetics has previously worked with Delta.