Vector Limited

💜 Vector Lights is going purple to support Meningitis Foundation Aotearoa New Zealand for World Meningitis Day.

The iconic bridge and precinct lighting will shine purple on 5 October as a symbol of remembrance for everyone who has lost their life, or had their life changed forever, by meningitis. Together, we can help prevent the preventable for a brighter future.

The purple lighting display will help raise awareness of meningitis and honour those whose lives have been impacted by the disease

Join us in recognising World Meningitis Day and supporting efforts to increase awareness and prevention.

📍 Auckland Harbour Bridge and surrounding Waitematā Harbour precinct
📆 5 October 2026
⏰ From sunset to midnight

Powered by a mix of clean energy technology, including solar, battery and peer-to-peer systems, Vector Lights transforms the Waitematā as a guiding light toward a smart energy future.

💜 with Auckland Council and NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi

Wildfire resilience: how power networks and fire crews plan together.

Wildfires aren't something most of us think about day-to-day, but when they threaten a community, electricity may still be supporting essential services such as communications, water, healthcare, businesses and households. At the same time, crews need safe access to affected areas and reliable information before damaged equipment can be assessed and returned to service.

At the Electricity Engineers’ Association Conference in Auckland, people from electricity networks and emergency response discussed how those decisions can be made safely and promptly before, during and after a wildfire.

The conversation covered local fire-risk information, clear response plans, coordination with emergency services, network technology and the checks needed before power is restored.

The panel brought together perspectives from across the sector, with keynote speaker Jamie Cowan, and panelists Tim Mitchell from Fire and Emergency NZ , Steve MacDonald from Orion NZ Ltd and Vector Limited ’s Marko Simunac sharing their experience, and insights on building resilience to wildfire risk.

For communities, much of this work is unseen. It matters because preparation and trusted relationships can support safer decisions when an emergency happens.

Ever wondered how we protect your power supply across the electricity network?

Most of us know what happens when a circuit breaker trips at home. It is usually your first clue that something isn't quite right. The breaker switches off power to part of your house, helping protect wiring, equipment and people.

Now imagine the same idea on a much bigger scale.

Circuit breakers in a substation sit within a larger system called switchgear, which helps control where electricity flows around the local area.

If something goes wrong on the network, the circuit breaker can quickly switch off the affected section. This helps stop the issue from spreading, protects equipment, and gives Vector crews a safer way to restore power.

The breaker in your home and the breaker inside a substation are very different in size and complexity, but they share the same purpose.

It is another example of how some of the most important parts of the electricity network are often hidden in plain sight.

Vector Limited

Connecting New Zealand's young electricity professionals

Last week's EEA Young Engineers Breakfast as part of the EEA's annual conference, sponsored by Vector Limited, brought together emerging engineers and young professionals from across New Zealand's electricity sector to share ideas, build relationships and explore the future of energy in Aotearoa.

With New Zealand's energy system evolving rapidly, the event provided an opportunity for participants to learn from one another, build industry connections and hear from professionals who have already navigated their own career journeys.

One of the highlights was hearing from Vector’s Raj Chand and Peter Ryan, who shared practical lessons, challenges and experiences from their time in the industry. Their insights provided valuable perspectives for the engineers and young professionals who will help shape a more resilient, sustainable and customer-focused energy future.

Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and helped make the event such a valuable opportunity for the next generation of New Zealand's engineers.

Got a planned power outage coming up? 🔌

If you've received a notice from us about planned network upgrades or maintenance in your area, we know outages are inconvenient and often frustrating, but a few simple steps can help make the day a little easier to cope with.

Here are some ways to prepare:

🔋 Charge your phones, laptops and other devices before the power goes off.

❄️ Keep fridge and freezer doors closed to help keep food cold for longer.

💻 Switch sensitive electronics off at the wall to help protect them when power is restored.
If you work from home, rely on medical equipment, or use electric gates or garage doors, make alternative arrangements ahead of time.

Vector Limited

Wildfires are not something many of us think about day-to-day. 🌿

But as weather patterns become more challenging, electricity networks are thinking carefully about how to prepare, respond, and recover when communities face wildfire risks.

Vector Limited’s Marko Simunac will join sector and emergency response specialists at the EEA (Electricity Engineers Association) Conference on 24 September to discuss wildfire resilience across New Zealand’s electricity industry.

Knowledge sharing matters. The more we learn from each other, the better equipped our networks and communities will be for the future.
We'll share key insights from the discussion after the event.

Auckland Harbour Bridge lights up for the One NZ Warriors

Vector Lights joins landmarks across Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland this weekend in support of the One NZ Warriors as the rugby league team plays its sold-out NRL Semi-Final at Eden Park on Sunday 20 September.

Gather with friends and whānau to see the Auckland Harbour Bridge light up in Warriors blue, red and green to celebrate our home team. Up the Wahs! 💙❤️💚

with Auckland Council and NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi

Fresh thinking from Vector’s young professionals

What does the future of energy look like through the eyes of early career professionals?

At our latest intern and graduate showcase, hosted by Anna Mayow,, we heard from Vivian Chen and Hayley Thomas about the work they’ve been contributing to.

Vivian, from ETH Zurich in Switzerland, spoke about her internship experience joining Vector's economic regulation and pricing team with Richard Sharp and Eva Lightbody. Vivian shared her contributions, what she has learned, and broader findings that will continue to add value to Vector Limited’s ongoing regulatory and pricing thinking.

Hayley spoke about her external secondment with Mac Diarmid Institute as a co-author of the New Zealand Cleantech Impact Report 2026. This showcases the important work that some of New Zealand's cleantech businesses are doing in reducing emissions here and globally.

It was a great opportunity to hear fresh perspectives from people who are early in their career and recognise the growth, curiosity and practical work happening across the business and in the broader industry.

Copper theft is putting Auckland communities at risk

Our crews are responding to an increasing number of copper theft incidents, with approximately 630 reported over the past year.

Thieves are damaging critical electrical infrastructure like live cables and leaving behind dangerous conditions.

The consequences can include:
⚡ Unsafe electrical equipment
⚡ Serious risk of injury or electrocution
⚡ Power outages
⚡ Damage to customers’ appliances, heat pumps and electronics
⚡ Crews diverted from planned maintenance

If you see suspicious activity around electricity equipment, don't approach or confront anyone. Report it to the Police by calling 111 if it is happening now, or 105 if it is after the fact.

Every attempted copper theft creates a risk to people and takes crews, time and money away from important work that keeps the network safe and reliable.

Vector Limited

Here's more from our conversation with RNZ: (link here)

https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/checkpoint/audio/2019051842/spike-in-copper-thefts-causing-millions-of-dollars-in-damage

Spike in copper thefts causing millions of dollars in damage A spike in thefts of copper and other recyclable metals is causing millions of dollars of damage to important infrastructure. The risk of having high-voltage wires exposed is also endangering thieves and the public. Police say the thefts - which often occur at night and in remote locations - can be....