Ruapehu District Council (RDC) and The Lines Company (TLC) have worked together to deliver a sustainable community-housing solar project that benefits local people while supporting the growth of renewable energy.
“Installing solar panels on our social housing properties is a meaningful step toward our decarbonisation goals and reflects our commitment to kaitiakitanga and environmental stewardship,” said Ruapehu District Mayor Weston Kirton.
“It’s a practical win for our social housing tenants and the wider Ruapehu community. Tenants will feel the difference in their weekly power bills, and ratepayers can be confident this initiative comes at no cost to them.”
“Neither organisation could have done this project on their own,” said TLC Chief Executive Mike Fox. “This solar initiative shows what’s possible when organisations with a shared purpose come together.
We stand behind our commitment to building genuine partnerships and making a difference to the people connected to our network, and this project ticks both those boxes.”
The collaboration directly supports Council’s ambition to shrink its carbon footprint and TLC’s drive to expand renewable energy. It demonstrates that strong local partnerships can deliver results that matter - lower costs for tenants, cleaner energy for the district, and real progress toward sustainability.
Solar panels have already been installed on two of RDC’s community-housing complexes in Taumarunui - Miriama Street and Cherry Grove - with Taupō Road and Ohakune next in line.
TLC brought expertise from its other solar initiatives, working alongside Chris & Co Electrical and Solar, while RDC seized the opportunity to improve its social housing.
Tenant Brian Portland at the Miriama Street complex said, “Every dollar saved is a dollar back in my pocket. The whole process was seamless, from the pre-install contact to installation.”
Mayor Kirton thanked everyone involved and noted the project shows “what can be achieved when we combine local know-how, community spirit and a shared commitment to sustainability.”
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