• Help shape the future of electricity in the Kāwhia area

    Help shape the future of electricity in the Kāwhia area

  • We’re working with our customers in the Kāwhia area to better understand local experiences, priorities, and future electricity needs. Whether you live in Kāwhia, Aotea, Ōpārau, Te Waitere, or the surrounding rural area, we'd like to hear from you.

    The key themes from this survey will be shared and discussed at our community workshop on 3 September. Everyone is welcome to attend, and there's a question near the end of this survey where you can let us know if you'd like to come.
     
    The survey should take less than 10 minutes to complete. As a thank you for your time, everyone who submits a completed survey by 11:59 pm on Sunday 23 August 2026 can enter the draw to win one of ten $150 Prezzy Cards. 
     
    For full promotional terms and conditions, including information about how your survey responses will be collected and used, please click here. If you have any questions, please contact our communications team at communications@waipanetworks.co.nz 

  • Section 1 - About you

    To help us understand different perspectives across the community, we'd like to know a little about your connection to the area, and the household, business, or community you're responding about. 
  • Which of the following best describes your connection to the Kāwhia area? Please select all options that apply.*
  • Where are you mainly based?*

  • To view Wāipa Networks' electricity coverage area, click here. 

  • Please select which type of local property, place, or organisation, you are completing this survey about.*
  • Please select the age bracket you are in.*
  • Please select an option from the below that best describes your household.*

  • Section 2 - Your electricity experience

    These questions are about your experience with electricity in the Kāwhia area, including how reliable you think the current network is and any issues you've noticed. 
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  • Compared to two to three years ago, do you think the reliability of the electricity supply has:*
  • Outside of outages, have you experienced or heard about any of the following? Please select all that apply.*

  • Before we ask some more detailed questions about outages and future electricity needs, we’d like to understand what matters most to you.
  • Thinking about electricity in the Kāwhia area, which three of the following are most important to you?*

  • Section 3 - Power outages and their impact

    Power outages affect people in different ways. We'd like to understand how outages impact you, so we can better understand local priorities. 
  • When the power goes out, what are the main impacts for you? Please select up to three of the options below that have the greatest impact.*
  • At what point does an outage start to have a significant impact on you? Please select the most appropriate option from the following.*
  • What times of day would a power outage generally have the greatest impact on you? Please select all that apply.*
  • And on which days? Please select all that apply.*
  • During a longer outage, do you have any backup options? Please select all that apply.*

  • Section 4 – Keeping you informed during power outages

    Good communication during a power outage can be just as important as restoring power. We'd like to understand what information you need most and how you'd prefer to receive it.
  • During a power outage, what information would you most like to receive? Please select up to three of the options below that are most important to you.*
  • How would you prefer to receive power outage updates? Please select up to three of the options below that are most important to you.*
  • During storms or outages, how reliable are your mobile phone and internet services where you are based? *

  • Section 5 – Getting the power back on sooner

    In some situations, we may be able to restore electricity sooner by leaving controlled hot water off a little longer. Controlled hot water is the separate electricity supply used to heat hot water cylinders. We'd like to understand whether this would work for you, and what situations might make it difficult. If you don’t have controlled hot water, please answer the following questions based on what you think would be most appropriate.
  • If restoring most of your electricity sooner meant your controlled hot water stayed off for longer, how acceptable would this be to you?*
  • If your electricity was restored first, how long could your controlled hot water remain off before it became a serious problem?*
  • Which of the following situations would make this option difficult or unsuitable for you? Please select all options that apply.*

  • Section 6 – Investing in the network

    As we plan for the future, we need to understand how electricity needs may change and make careful choices about investment in the network. The following questions ask about your future electricity needs, balancing improvements with affordability, and how the costs of those improvements should be shared.
  • Looking ahead, do you expect your property's electricity needs to increase over the next 3–10 years?*
  • What do you expect may increase your electricity needs? Please select all options that apply.*
  • Sometimes, improvements to the electricity network come at an additional cost. Which statement best reflects your view?*
  • If a network improvement mainly benefitted the Kāwhia area, who do you think should contribute to the cost?*

  • Section 7 - Rural customers

    These next questions are for people completing the survey about a farm or rural property. We know rural properties often have different electricity needs and may use backup power during outages. We'd like to better understand your experience so we can plan for the future. 
  • During a power outage, what are the main impacts for you? Please select up to three of the options below that have the greatest impact.*
  • Do you have access to a generator or any other backup power during a power outage? Please select all that apply.*
  • If you needed to rely on your backup power, what would it be able to keep running? *
  • How long could your backup power realistically meet your essential needs? *
  • What's the best way for Waipā Networks to connect with people in your local rural community? Please select up to three options from the below.*

  • Section 8 - Local marae

    Local marae are an important part of the Kāwhia community. As we plan for Kāwhia’s future electricity needs, we would like to understand how current electricity supply issues may affect local marae and what future growth, development, or changing needs to consider.
  • When there is a power outage, what has the biggest impact on your marae or whānau? Please select up to three of the options below that have the greatest impact.*
  • Looking ahead, are there any future marae projects or plans you are aware of that may require more electricity? *
  • What kinds of projects or developments are you aware of? Please select all that apply.*

  • Section 8 – Your final thoughts

    Thank you for sharing your views. We are now nearing the end of the survey.
  • We’re holding a community workshop at the Kāwhia Town Hall on Thursday 3 September. We’ll share early themes from this survey and other local conversations, check whether they reflect the community’s experience, and discuss what matters most for future planning. There’ll also be time to ask questions and share your views. Kai will be provided. Please let us know if you plan to attend to help us with catering.*
  • Would you like to enter our draw to win one of ten $150 Prezzy Cards? *
  • Please confirm your main connection to the Kāwhia area by selecting the most appropriate option from the below. This is to confirm your eligibility for the Prezzy Card draw.*
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