5 years and 11,882 light fittings at the Waikeria Prison project

The completion of Stage 1 marks the end of a 5-year project for McKay, who was appointed as the principal electrical contractor by CPB Contractors in October 2019.

In November of the same year, McKay established its permanent on-site presence tailored to the project’s unique remote location. This was achieved by setting up two mobile offices and deploying an initial team of 14 electrical experts.

As construction progressed, McKay’s on-site workforce reached nearly 80 during peak construction, effectively scaling its resources to accommodate the project’s requirements.

As a Māori-owned business, McKay engaged the services of Moana Electrical and Kaitiaki Electrical (Guardian Electrical), two small Māori-owned businesses, for subcontract work. The owners of these businesses worked closely with McKay’s staff to develop their skills on a major building construction project. After two years, the owner of Moana Electrical was promoted to the role of Supervisor within the McKay team where he thrived becoming a top performer. Also, Kaitiaki Electrical were able to progress their apprentices through multiple on-job assessment tasks.

By partnering with diverse suppliers, McKay enhanced the resilience and innovation of our supply chain while empowering underrepresented communities.

The completed facility includes 28 new buildings and extensive infrastructure, including perimeter walls and fences, covered walkways, and recreational facilities. The Hikitia facility is the first of its kind in Aotearoa, New Zealand, and will provide culturally appropriate and clinically effective mental health and addiction care services primarily to men in the Waikato and Bay of Plenty Regions.

The entire project required an estimated 8.5 million hours of work to complete by all involved.

Throughout the project, McKay installed an impressive 11,882 light fittings and laid 383 kilometres of various cables, showcasing the vast scale and complexity of the undertaking. Additionally, 330 switchboards, varying from main switchboards to smaller distribution boards, and other panels were built by McKay-owned company, MGE New Zealand.

Lindsay Faithfull, Managing Director of McKay, expressed pride in the company’s contribution to this significant project, stating

“McKay takes great pride in our involvement in this project, which not only reflects our strong capacity and capability to deliver large-scale contracts but also showcases our commitment to servicing communities throughout New Zealand”.

McKay’s continuous dedication to Health, Safety, and Wellbeing was praised by CPB Contractors. The team received numerous accolades, including several recognitions as subcontractor of the month, and individual workers received recognition through various awards for their outstanding contributions to on-site health, safety, and quality.

McKay is proud to have been involved in such an important project in New Zealand. Contributing to a facility that establishes a new standard for prisoner rehabilitation has been both a privilege and a responsibility that our team thrived on. This project not only demonstrates our commitment to improving New Zealand’s infrastructure but also emphasizes the positive impact of collaboration in addressing significant societal needs.