LINE MECHANIC COMPETITION
Premier Sponsor
Every year as part of Annual Connection, the country’s top line mechanic crews come together to compete in a range of skills-based activities, with one team judged the winner.
Each crew is made up of five line mechanics from electricity supply companies of all sizes from all parts of the country.
Over the three days of Annual Connection each team completes a series of about 14 different activities designed to test their technical knowledge, on-the-job skills, and health and safety practices as well as testing how crew members work together to solve problems, install equipment and deal with emergencies.
Teams are judged over the three days of competition by a judging panel of highly experienced experts chosen from within New Zealand’s electricity supply industry (ESI).
The winning team is announced as part of the Connexis Training Excellence Awards held on the final night of Annual Connection each year.
As well as a chance to show off their incredible skills and expertise, Annual Connection offers New Zealand’s line mechanics a chance to connect with each other, share experiences and learn from each other.
It offers a unique opportunity to show off the work they do to keep New Zealand connected. Work that often goes unseen and under-appreciated in remote areas.
The competition is also a chance for the industry as a whole to showcase just how skilled, varied and in demand careers in the ESI really are.
If you're interested in finding out more about the training pathways related to the Energy Sector,
check out what Connexis offers:
LINE MECHANIC COMPETITION WINNERS 2024
FIRST PLACE
TOP ENERGY LTD.
TEAM
Simon Baylis
Lance Kahotea
Michael Kava
Michael Mitchell (Trainee)
Karl Wilson (Manager)
SECOND PLACE
THE LINES COMPANY
TEAM
Wiremu Te Tawhero
Matthew Tamaira
Topia Walker
Anaru Etana (Trainee)
Brayden Crown (Reserve)
Shogun Haami (Manager)
THIRD PLACE
OMEXOM
TEAM
Azra Wenzlick
Jason Daayata
Inoke Masiu
Cruz Reihana (Trainee)
Andrew Rubeus (Manager)
Busck Pole Install
SPONSORED BY Busck Prestressed Concrete
WINNERS
Waipa Networks
Gary Muraahi, Jamie Milne, Leighton Butler Hemara, Ashton Pullinger (Trainee), Mark Mita (Reserve and Manager)
Earthbank Installation
SPONSORED BY omexom
WINNERS
Omexom
Azra Wenzlick, Jason Daayata, Inoke Masiu , Cruz Reihana (Trainee), Andrew Rubeus (Manager)
Electrical Theory
SPONSORED BY Ideal Electrical and the EEA
WINNERS
Powerlines Hawke's Bay Ltd.
Jimmy Marinus, Nick Biss, Jared Tawharu, Ash James (Trainee), Haden Anderson (Manager)
Goldpine Wooden Pole
SPONSORED BY GOLDPINE
WINNERS
The Lines Company
Wiremu Te Tawhero, Matthew Tamaira, Topia Walker, Anaru Etana (Trainee), Brayden Crown (Reserve), Shogun Haami (Manager)
Hardware Install
SPONSORED BY WAGNERS
WINNERS
Powerlines Hawke's Bay Ltd.
Jimmy Marinus, Nick Biss, Jared Tawharu, Ash James (Trainee), Haden Anderson (Manager)
Mystery Event
SPONSORED BY powerlines hawke's bay ltd.
WINNERS
Omexom
Azra Wenzlick, Jason Daayata, Inoke Masiu , Cruz Reihana (Trainee), Andrew Rubeus (Manager)
Overhead Conductor Installation
SPONSORED BY NEXANS
WINNERS
Top Energy Ltd.
Simon Baylis, Lance Kahotea, Michael Kava, Michael Mitchell (Trainee), Karl Wilson (Manager)
Pole Top Rescue
SPONSORED BY MITA Consulting ltd.
WINNERS
Omexom
Azra Wenzlick, Jason Daayata, Inoke Masiu , Cruz Reihana (Trainee), Andrew Rubeus (Manager)
Crane Operation
SPONSORED BY PALFINGER
WINNERS
Electra
Gordon Meaclem, Johnny Logan, Madison Harvey, Kane Henderson (Trainee), William Moyes (Reserve), Dave Rogan & Steve Lovejoy (Manager)
TESTING TO ENSURE SAFETY
SPONSORED BY EWRB
WINNERS
Top Energy Ltd.
Simon Baylis, Lance Kahotea, Michael Kava, Michael Mitchell (Trainee), Karl Wilson (Manager)
EPZ Cable Riser Installation
SPONSORED BY powerlines hawke's bay ltd.
WINNERS
Powerlines Hawke's Bay Ltd.
Jimmy Marinus, Nick Biss, Jared Tawharu, Ash James (Trainee), Haden Anderson (Manager)
Faults Response
SPONSORED BY TR GROUP
WINNERS
Powernet NZ Ltd.
Sheamus McGuigan, Tyrel Gwynn, Lee Allan, Kurt Allan (Trainee), Lincoln Deans (Reserve), Fred Allan (Manager)
LV Underground Cable Installation
SPONSORED BY Private Powerline Services
WINNERS
The Lines Company
Wiremu Te Tawhero, Matthew Tamaira, Topia Walker, Anaru Etana (Trainee), Brayden Crown (Reserve), Shogun Haami (Manager)
Dismantle
SPONSORED BY MITA Consulting Ltd
WINNERS
Electra
Gordon Meaclem, Johnny Logan, Madison Harvey, Kane Henderson (Trainee), William Moyes (Reserve), Dave Rogan & Steve Lovejoy (Manager)
CONNEXIS LINE MECHANIC TROPHY
awarded to the winning line mechanic team
WINNERS
Top Energy Ltd.
Simon Baylis, Lance Kahotea, Michael Kava, Michael Mitchell (Trainee), Karl Wilson (Manager)
CONNEXIS LEADERSHIP TROPHY
- Leadership over crew for 3 days
- Individual scores (event 8, event 9 and theory) Pole Top Rescue, Crane Operation, Testing to Ensure
- A good crew leader that can manage a site without stressing out and having trust in their team.
WINNER
Wiremu Te Tawhero (The Lines Company)
Colin (Bear) McKay Memorial Trophy
Awarded To the Line Mechanic Team - Winner of the Dismantle Comp
WINNERS
Electra
Gordon Meaclem, Johnny Logan, Madison Harvey, Kane Henderson (Trainee), William Moyes (Reserve), Dave Rogan & Steve Lovejoy (Manager)
Ross Archer Memorial Trophy
Awarded to the trainee with the best individual marks
WINNER
Michael Mitchell (Top Energy Ltd.)
dougie Trophy
Awarded To the Best presented, Best team Spirit. Decided by the judges
WINNERS
WEL Networks
Aiden Skelton, Bradley Jackson, Julian Raurikua, Semesa Vula (Trainee), Juta Seniuanilau (Manager)