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Unison group

serving its community for over 90 years.

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We are Unison



The Unison Group consists of specialist companies delivering world-class electricity and fibre solutions.



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Our Vision:

To deliver world-class network and energy solutions to our customers.

Read more about Unison's Vision and Values

Hawke's Bay Power Consumers' Trust

Unison is Community-Owned

Unison is wholly owned by the Hawke's Bay Power Consumers' Trust (HBPCT), which hold the shares on behalf of the consumers connected to Unison's electricity network in Hawke's Bay. Trust shareholding ensures the Company remains focused on delivering economic benefits to our customers and community shareholders.


Find out more about the Hawke's Bay Power Consumers' Trust

Unison people. Our background.

  •  of  View all

    Ken Sutherland

    Unison Group Chief Executive

    Ken Sutherland has extensive experience and leadership within the utility, infrastructure and electricity sector in New Zealand. He is Chairman of the Board of the Electricity Networks Association and a member of the electricity sector’s Chief Executive Group. He is also a member of the following organisations; the Business New Zealand Major Companies Group CEO Forum, the Energy Networks Association CEO Forum in Australia, the New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants and the New Zealand Institute of Directors. Read more about Ken Sutherland

    Tell me more about the Unison Executive Team
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    Kevin Atkinson

    Chairman, Remuneration Committee Chairman, Audit & Risk Committee Member

    Kevin Atkinson, MNZM, is an Accredited Director of the Institute of Directors (AMInstD), a Fellow of the Institute of Directors (FInstD) and a Fellow of the Institute of Management (FNZIM). He was made a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) for services to Business and the Community in the 2010 Queen’s Birthday Honours List. Read more about Kevin Atkinson

    Tell me more about Unison Board members

Reports & publications

Want to know about Unison's performance and regulatory disclosures? Find out more here »

Annual Reports

Every year, the Unison Group publishes an Annual Report.
Check them out here »

Statement of Corporate Intent

Unison is a primary provider of infrastructure services for the distribution of energy to consumers in the Hawke's Bay, Taupo and Rotorua districts. The quality and efficiency by which these services are provided has a significant impact on the economic and social wellbeing of these areas.
Read more »

Pricing information

Each year, Unison is required to set tariffs within the Commerce Commission’s ruling on pricing, and publish these tariffs and related methodology.
Read more »

  • Unison group history

    Serving the community and providing a service in this industry sector for over 90 years.

    Read more

  • 1912

    In the very early days of electricity generation, the generation and supply of power was managed by Councils or Municipal departments. Our home town of Hastings first enjoyed the benefits of an electricity network in 1912.

  • 1918

    The Electric Power Boards Act 1918 gave Power Boards the opportunity to produce, reticulate and sell power to those areas not supplied through the local government.

  • 1924

    Following the Electric Power Boards Act 1918, Power Boards could produce, reticulate and sell power to those areas not supplied through the local government. So, on 27 September 1924, the first meeting of the Hawke’s Bay Electric Power Board (HBEPB) was held.

  • 1950

    With all power for the Hawke's Bay region coming from a single point of supply at Redclyffe, by the early 1950’s growth in demand for electricity required the Government to build a second point of 20,000kVA supply at Fernhill to meet the increasing electricity needs of customers.

  • 1960

    Increasing demand for underground installations in residential areas meant the focus shifted from construction of new connections to the undergrounding of existing overhead supplies.

  • 1991

    The 1990s was the period of most significant organisational change for the Board. The first change came in November 1991 when the Board finally purchased the electricity business, Bay City Power, operated by the Napier City Council.

  • 1992

    The Energy Companies Act 1992 allowed for the corporatisation of the Electricity Boards, changing the ownership to one of shareholdings, with the option of vesting the shares into Trust ownership a most popular choice around New Zealand.

  • 1993

    For the Hawke's Bay Electric Power Board, the Energy Act resulted in the formation of Hawke’s Bay Power Distribution Limited and its subsidiary company, Hawke’s Bay Power Limited, both trading as Hawke’s Bay Power on 20 May, 1993. All shares were vested in the Hawke’s Bay Power Consumers’ Trust ensuring continued “consumer ownership” of the Company and its distribution network.

  • 1998

    This Act required that one company could no longer both distribute and retail electricity, and so on 30 September 1998, the retail business of the Company was sold to Contact Energy Ltd, and its changed to Hawke’s Bay Network Limited in January 1999.

  • 2002

    In 2002, Hawke’s Bay Network Limited acquired the Taupo and Rotorua electricity distribution assets of United Networks Limited and Vector Limited.

  • 2003

    Unison Networks Limited (trading as Unison) came into being on 17 April 2003, when the Company changed its name.

  • 2009

    In 2009, Unison branched out into fibre, with the establishment of subsidiary Unison Fibre Limited. In the same year Unison also purchased ETEL - New Zealand’s largest transformer manufacturing company.

  • 2010

    The Company underwent a restructure in 2010, separating out its electrical, fibre, vegetation and civil contracting services under a new subsidiary, Unison Contracting Services Limited (UCSL).

Quick Facts

  • Supplies ELECTRICITY and FIBRE to Hawke’s Bay, Rotorua, and Taupo

  • Over 9,000km of power lines

  • Over 700km of FIBRE NETWORK

  • FIFTH LARGEST electricity distributor in New Zealand

  •  We've installed six electric vehicle chargers across our network

  • Supplies over 110,000 customers

  • $550m of electricity & fibre assets

  • Over 380 employees
  • Established in 1924, as the Hawke’s Bay Electric Power Board.

  • Serving its community for 90 years.

  • UnisonFibre’s network offers speeds in excess of 10 gigabits.

  •  More than $88 million distributed to the beneficiaries of the Hawke's Bay Power Consumers Trust