100-Year Celebrations — Marlborough Lines

Celebrating

Celebrating 100 Years of Energising Marlborough

Since its inception in 1923, Marlborough Lines Limited has been at the heart of our region’s homes, businesses and communities. A century later, we are proud to reflect on some of the challenges and triumphs of the past 100 years.

The predecessor of Marlborough Lines, the Marlborough Electric Power Board, was established on 23 October 1923, to bring “power to the people”. In 1993 it became Marlborough Electric and is now Marlborough Lines Limited.

Marlborough Lines and the Marlborough region have undergone many transformations over the past 100 years. With a widespread population spanning some geographically challenging areas from remote parts of the Marlborough Sounds to the East Coast and everywhere in between, keeping up with demand for electricity has had its challenges. Through earthquakes, severe weather events and an ever-growing population, Marlborough Lines has always responded to meet demand.

Marlborough Lines CEO Tim Cosgrove says from humble beginnings, to becoming a vital pillar of the community, Marlborough Lines has witnessed tremendous growth, evolution and transformation.

“From the installation of the first power lines, to the implementation of cutting-edge technologies, we have continuously adapted to meet the ever-changing energy landscape,” Cosgrove says.

“As we embark on our second century, we are mindful of the challenges that lie ahead. Rapid advancements in technology, the imperative of de-carbonisation and the evolving expectations of our consumers. I am confident that our experience, expertise, and the passion of our team will empower us to navigate these complexities and continue to provide outstanding service to our community.”

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Marlborough Energised Event

To celebrate our 100-Year milestone and the company’s ongoing commitment to the Marlborough community, we are excited to bring a spectacular light and visual event, Marlborough Energised, to Blenheim for the first time.

This exciting, interactive lighting display from Illuminate will be held in beautiful Pollard Park in central Blenheim over three nights from 12-14 April, 5.00pm-9.30pm each day. Entry will be free, and all are welcome to join us in this festival of colour and light that promises to be fun for the whole family.

Marlborough Energised Interactive Lighting Event brought to you by Marlborough Lines

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Generation Museum Open Days brought to you by Marlborough Lines

Marlborough Lines Generation Museum

On the same weekend, Marlborough Lines’ Generation Museum on the corner of Thomsons Ford and Old Renwick Roads will be open from 9am-3pm to the public to view our new museum area and a vintage Paxman engine in operation.

The 68 tonne Paxman diesel engine, capable of producing 430kW, was installed in 1930 to generate back-up power and is the only engine of its kind in the world that is still operable.

Marlborough Lines Diesel Station on Murphys Road in Blenheim, New Zealand

Marlborough Lines Centenary Book

A book, Marlborough Energised – Marlborough Electric Power Board to Marlborough Lines 1923-2023, detailing the milestones and trials encountered by Marlborough Lines over the past century, has been written by Marlborough local Cynthia Brooks. The book serves as a testament to the stories of countless individuals, dedicated employees, loyal consumers, and supportive stakeholders who have contributed to the success of the company. To purchase a copy of Marlborough Energised visit us at our Alfred Street office.

Major Milestones

To view the impact Marlborough Lines has had and continues to have on the region view our major milestones over the past 100 years below.

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Marlborough Electric Power Board constituted under gazette on 25 October 1923 following local petition to Government for creation of a power board and Goverment's refusal to provide a state electricity supply to Marlborough. The first Board elected in November 1923 sets about providing supply to the Borough of Blenheim and Marlborough and Awatere Counties, as those areas were then defined.
Power Board commissions first hydro generation plant with a capacity of 1MW in the Waihopai River, about 40km from Blenheim. Construction of the power station and Waihopai dam are a major undertaking with all the concrete mixed and poured by hand. Official ''switching on'' of power in Blenheim with a crowd of thousands welcoming light into a dark, drizzly winter's night in Market Square and celebrating with singing the provincial anthem ''Marlborough Will Shine Tonight''. 29 consumers connected that night.
First 430kW, 68 tonne, diesel engine (Davey Paxman) installed at Murphys Road Diesel Station to provide additional generating capacity for Marlborough to counter possible supply restrictions from Waihopai dam. Today, the Paxman is the only engine of its kind in the world that is still operable.
Second 900kW diesel engine (Harland & Wolff) installed at Murphys Road Diesel Station. The Station building is doubled to accommodate the new approximately 71 tonne engine. Noel Webby operated the diesel engines for many years.
Cobb Power Station delivers electricity to Marlborough for the first time with completion of Cobb-Stoke-Blenheim 66kV transmission line.
First Picton customers converted from Picton's DC plant to the Marlborough Electric Power Board's network. Township by township and bay by bay poles were raised and wires strung bringing all the benefits of having a reliable power source at the flick of a switch to rural areas and the Marlborough Sounds.
First connection to National Grid via a 66kV transmission line from West Coast to Kikiwa is completed. Marlborough's second connection to National Grid takes place in 1958 with completion of the lslington Kikiwa 220kV line.
Construction of 52 miles of line to Marlborough's East Coast area commences and completed in November 1958 with a switching- on ceremony held at Kekerengu to celebrate. The East Coast was one of the areas where a horse was used to help pack gear and equipment to some of the steeper country. As with all other holes at the time the post holes and those for the stays were dug by hand.
First livening ceremony at Portage Hotel for stage one of Marlborough Sounds development. Getting power to the Sounds was an undertaking of heroic proportions with often no tracks or vehicle access, and helicopters used to deliver poles onto a punt. By mid-1970 power was available to consumers in Queen Charlotte Sound as far as Endeavour Inlet, the whole of Kenepuru Sound and the Pelorus Sound as far as Manaroa, Crail and Elie Bays.
Official switching-on ceremony at French Pass. 50 miles of the line was constructed from Rai Valley. Other events taking place in 1971 included 140 mph winds and 8-inch diameter ice on Black Birch overhead line destroys power line to the observatories. An underground 11kV cable, subsequently installed, is the highest underground supply in New Zealand at the time.
With meticulous planning, and construction of a 33kV line from Waikawa to Haka Haka, the unique three span 11kV line across Tory Channel is livened. The stringing of the conductors across Tory Channel started on site at 7am and all three conductors were in place by 4.30pm notwithstanding allowing for uninterrupted passage of the ferries. At 2,029m the Tory Channel overhead span is the longest in New Zealand.
Major flooding destroys temporary Branch River hydro installations. The dam built to withstand a flow of 1,000 cumecs was topped with concrete and reinforced with wire rope. But that was still not enough to save it from the July floodwaters which scoured it out, collapsing the concrete, putting the full force of the water on the steel sheet piling. Two power houses at Branch River power scheme commissioned. Wairau powerhouse commences generation on 22 June 1983 and Argyle on 16 August 1983. Marlborough Electric Power Board's heaviest power line constructed between Wairau and Argyle power houses as part of Branch hydro scheme.
11MW Branch River power scheme officially opened by Prime Minister, Rt Honourable Sir Robert Muldoon. The project took three years to complete and involved more than 150 people including contractors and Power Board staff.
The Electricity Centre in the Blenheim CBD opens as the Marlborough Electric Power Board enters the retail appliance business. A second appliance showroom opens in Picton in 1991. Both businesses are sold in 1998 ending a decade of operating in appliance retailing
Under Government decree New Zealand's Electric Power Boards are corporatised. Marlborough Electric Power Board is incorporated as a limited liability company and becomes Marlborough Electric Limited. Company shares are vested in the Trustees of the Marlborough Electric Power Trust on behalf of electricity consumers and commercial directors are appointed.
Marlborough Electric acquires a 50% share in Nelson Electricity Limited which reticulates electricity to the Nelson City area. The remaining 50% share is held by Network Tasman.
Marlborough Electric forced to sell its generation assets and its electricity trading business unit to become solely an electricity network owner and operator following ''Bradford'' electricity legislation reforms.
Marlborough Electric Limited becomes Marlborough Lines Limited with the name change reflecting a new focus. Following sale of its electricity trading and generation businesses the company begins investigating further investments within the electricity distribution sector.
Marlborough Lines acquires 51% share of Otago regional electricity network operator OtagoNet and 51% share of the related contracting company Otago Power Services Limited. Remaining shares held by Electricity lnvercargill and The Power Company. Marlborough Lines undertakes management of Otago Power Services and grows the contracting division from the initial 33 employees to 96.
Marlborough Lines acquires a 13.89% shareholding in Whakatane based regional electricity network, Horizon Energy Distribution Limited. The shareholding is sold in 2015.
51% share of Otago investments sold by Marlborough Lines. The gain made on the sale is invested for the benefit of current and future electricity consumers in Marlborough.
To broaden the company's investment base Marlborough Lines acquires 80% shareholding in the Marlborough based Yealands Wine Group. Remaining shares in Yealands Wine Group acquired by Marlborough Lines in 2018.
7.8 magnitude earthquake strikes the Marlborough East Coast and North Canterbury regions. Named the Kaikoura Earthquake, it is New Zealand's largest since the mid-1800s causing extensive damage with many ground surface ruptures along previously unknown fault lines up through Marlborough's East Coast. Miraculously only two people lose their lives. But the damage to roads, building and infrastructure is on a massive scale with maximum land movements of 12m horizontal, 7m vertical, 1.3g ground acceleration, and 2km per second spread northward.
A new company vision is developed ''Energising Marlborough's Future'' along with a new mission ''deliver sustainable regional growth and equity through people, technology, and environmental leadership''. The vision and mission reflect Marlborough Lines being an enabler to a vibrant and energised future for Marlborough, where our people and community are cared for, businesses are thriving, and the environment is looked after sustainably for generations to come.
The Marlborough Lines team continues taking an innovative approach to the rapidly changing energy landscape with commissioning an 850kW solar farm at the company's Taylor Pass depot and planning solar farms in Ward, Dillons Point, and adjacent to Yealands Winery. Marlborough Lines purchases land on Park Terrace and begins construction of an EV charging station to meet the growing demand for EV charging in the Blenheim CBD. Energy Marlborough enters a strategic partnership with MainPower to develop a 95MW Wind Farm at Mt Cass, North Canterbury. The company celebrates the major milestone of 100 years in operation!

Celebrating