Kāinga Ora isn’t just about building more houses - it’s also about making our large-scale projects and neighbourhoods like Oranga an even better place to live. One of the ways we do this is by upgrading existing infrastructure. Our civil works partner Piritahi helps us do this. Like a lot of areas around Auckland, much of the existing infrastructure in Oranga is out of date and needs to be replaced or upgraded. It’s a big job.

These infrastructure updates began in 2019, with Edmonton Avenue, Nissan Place and Treasury Place being the first streets in Oranga to benefit from having poles removed and powerlines shifted underground. More Oranga streets will follow as work progresses to future-proof the neighbourhood for current and future residents. 

Shifting powerlines underground is important for more than just aesthetic reasons. It makes them safer and less vulnerable to damage or interruption caused by extreme weather or accidental contact from people or wildlife. It also makes streets more user-friendly, with more space for pedestrians and planting. 

Piritahi and Vector’s electrical contractor, WELLS Electrical, kickstarted the project by meeting face-to-face with all residents whose homes were connected to overhead powerlines. They carefully explained the process, answered questions, and got written approval to undertake reconnection work.

Piritahi is currently focused on completing State Avenue, Gambia Place, Torokina Place before moving to Waitangi Road.

A big thanks to local residents, Piritahi, Vector, Omexom and WELLS Electrical for making it such a success.