The EEA engineering excellence awards recognises recent activities or projects associated with the development of new infrastructure or the improvement of existing infrastructure for the generation, transmission, distribution or utilisation of electricity within the New Zealand electricity supply industry.
Awards are presented at the annual EEA Conference and Technology Exhibition. Winners will receive a trophy and a cash prize of $500.
2024 Winner – Northpower: Enabling te ao Māori values to guide construction of a resilient power supply for Whangārei
The transmission tower replacement and relocation project provided examples of excellence in how engineering challenges were addressed, the emphasis given to reducing risk to flora and fauna, and how significant stakeholder engagement was managed.
Read more about Northpower’s project here

How to Enter
You will need to provide information to showcase your entry. This requires a little work but it is important we have this information to help our judging panel select the winner and to showcase the runner ups. The judging panel may contact you directly for more information.
The submission should provide a descriptive summary and give us the details and supporting information/data around the issue(s), key attribute(s), action(s) and factors you believe have contributed toward your successful safety outcome and demonstrating how the entry meets the judging criteria.
Projects must have been in operation for at least a year, and be no more than three years old.
It should also include;
- Diagrams and explanatory text and any published reviews or critiques undertaken by independent parties
- Supporting visual/multimedia material which could include up to 1-6 high quality colour images; and /or either in jpg or tif format, or clearly labelled photographs ;and/or up to 25 second of mpg video file or automated PowerPoint presentation
- Sign-off by a member of the organisation’s senior management team
Please ensure to have your attachments ready or email your entry to admin@eea.co.nz.
Judging Criteria
Criteria: Contribution to the national or local economy and impact on quality of life of relevant communities
Performance Indicators
- Development of infrastructure (ie. national/local asset).
- Value-adding to natural resources.
- Evidence of meaningful consultation with those affected.
- Impact on the natural environment.
- Impact on an urban environment.
- Cost savings potential.
- Employment potential.
- Advancement of sustainability
- Import replacement.
- New industry development.
- Health and safety of people.
- Material well-being of those affected.
- Environmental or social well-being of those affected.
Criteria: Contribution to building the reputation of New Zealand electricity supply industry engineering
Performance Indicators
- Satisfaction of the needs of clients and/or end-user groups.
- Importance of the engineering component.
- Reputation as a quality project.
- Adherence to budget and timeline.
- Recognition as an engineering achievement/ innovation.
- Recognition of the standard of excellence.
Criteria: Overseas interest
Performance Indicators
- Functionality and economic impact on its life cycle
- Originality.
- Coverage in world literature.
Criteria: Sound Engineering and Business Principles and Practices
Performance Indicators
- Future operability and asset maintenance provisions.
- Originality or ingenuity in achieving the best solution.
- Adherence to budget parameters and program timelines.
- Innovation and creativity exhibited in all aspects of the work.
- Patents and other protection
Terms and Conditions of Entry
The entrant accepts and agrees to the following terms and conditions:
- The award is open to all New Zealand electricity supply industry organisations and individuals, including, but not limited to: asset owners, contractors, consultants, equipment suppliers or others in the generation, network or electricity retail sectors.
- All entries and supporting material must be received at the EEA by the dates specified in the entry requirements.
- Projects must have been in operation for at least a year, and be no more than three years old.
- All relevant parties have been identified as part of the entry’s engineering team.
- The entrant has obtained the permission of all relevant parties to proceed with the entry.
- The entrant gives permission for the EEA to use any of the material provided for publicity and promotional purposes.
- Should further information be requested, this will be provided by the date specified.
- Should the judges wish to visit the site of an activity or ask questionsl of any person(s) involved with an entry, all reasonable efforts will be made ot accommodate the visit and answer any questions posed.
- Should the entrant be announced as a finalist, the entrant must attend, and meet the costs of attending, the formal Awards presentation at the EEA Conference.
- The entrant accepts that the judges’ decision is final and that no correspondence will be entered into.
- The judges undertake to observe the confidentiality of entries and to declare or avoid any possible conflict of interest.
- The judges reserve the right not to make an Award where, in the judges’ opinion, no entry of adequate standard has been received.
- The assessment results of the award will not create any legal obligations between the entrant and the EEA.
- The EEA reserves the right to publish any aspect of the award, including its presentation.
- Unless specifically arranged, submissions and supporting material will not be returned to the entrant.
Previous Winners
2022 | PowerNet Ltd, ‘Innovation at the Edge of the World’ |
2018 | AECOM NZ Ltd ‘Wilton Substation 110kV Bus Rationalisation’ |
2017 | Unison Networks ‘Asset Rating in the Days of Disruptive Innovations’ |
2016 | Meridian Energy ‘Manapouri Transformer Project’ |
2015 | AECOM ‘Wairau Road GXP Substation’ |
2014 | Amethyst Hydro Ltd & Electronet Group ‘ Amethyst Hydro Power Scheme’
Merit to: Mitton Electronet & Transpower ‘A Transmission Mobile Substation from Design to Operation’ |
2013 | ElectroNet Group (Mitton ElectroNet & ElectroNet Services) ‘Connecting McKee Power Plant to the Grid’ |
2012 | Top Energy/Transpower ‘Overcoming Ownership Boundaries to Serve Customers’ |
2009 | Over $3m in capital expenditure category): Mighty River Power for their ‘Kawerau Geothermal Power Station’ Project. |
2008 | Over $3m in capital expenditure category): Mighty River Power for their Arapuni Dam Foundation Remediation Project.
Under $3m in capital expenditure category: Connetics for their full lighting upgrade of the exterior of New Zealands architectural icon Christchurch Cathedral. |
2007 | Over $3m in capital expenditure category): Vector ‘Revitalising Infrastructure: Vector’s Undergrounding Project in Howick’. |