Innovative electrical solutions for challenging projects, ranging from an oil & gas exploration rig to illuminating the glass ceiling of a wine cellar, were among the winners of the biennial ECANZ Excellence awards in August.

The awards are organised by the Electrical Contractors Association of New Zealand (ECANZ) to help showcase the highest achievements in innovation and quality workmanship in electrical projects.
ECANZ chief executive Neville Simpson said: “The finalists were selected from a large number of entries and were all of a very high calibre. They were judged according to very rigorous criteria and the winners represent the absolute best of electrical work in New Zealand.”
There were six awards categories as well as an overall award for excellence.
The ECANZ Excellence award for 2013 was won by Hawera-based Taranaki Industrial Electrical Services (TIES) for its work on the Nova 1 drilling rig, which has been used for oil and gas exploration in Taranaki and other sites. TIES also won the Powerbase Major Contract Award for projects worth more than $500,000.
The Phillips Lighting award was won by Hall Electrical Services of Auckland for the complete wiring of a new homestead in Karaka, South Auckland, with many unusual features – including illuminating the glass ceiling of a wine cellar, which extended up into the kitchen of the property.
The Corys Electrical Award for a project by a sole trader or small business went to Auckland-based
Prolectrics for its work on a printing press guarding and safety upgrade for Horton Media in East Tamaki, Australasia's largest independent contract newspaper printer.
Winner of the Ideal Electrical Suppliers Contract awards for medium-sized projects of below $500,000 was the Wellington arm of Clarkson Electrical for the design and build of a highly complex portable research unit.
The NHP Industrial Automation award went to Athenry Electrical of East Tamaki for a major upgrade of ‘necking’ machinery at a canning plant run by Visy.
Hamilton’s Glenview Electrical Services carried off the EECA Energy Efficiency award for the complete rewire of the existing library and a large extension at the University of Waikato.
A Special Commendation award went to Aotea Electric Canterbury and Aotea Electric for its work on the Christchurch temporary stadium.
The awards were presented at an awards dinner held at the Langham.