As a start-up renewable energy business we are proud to stand with whānau, friends, work mates and all those who have helped us succeed over the last two years and announce that our company, Tū Mai Rā Energy (TMRE), received two awards at the recent Sustainable Energy Association NZ conference. TMRE were runners up for best community project through solar design & install for Tau Henare Marae project at Pipiwai, Tai Tokerau. TMRE also won best small business for 2022.
First and foremost though, Tū Mai Rā Energy has always been about utilising renewable energy technology to contribute to the health and wellbeing of whānau in the home. In its two years of operation more than 50% of TMRE’s installations have supported whānau that experience energy poverty.
TMRE is a result of the Rangitāne iwi grouping of Rangitāne o Tamaki a Rua & Rangitāne o Wairarapa supporting the establishment of TMRE in 2019. However this started out as a collaborative effort in 2017 between three Māori entities and a Vietnamese solar company, SolarBK. As activities unfolded and priorities changed, Rangitāne ended up forging ahead with what some termed too risky as an investment, and to be fair at that time it was risky!!
The results of these efforts today see a Māori owned business operating in a sector where a Māori presence is scarce. It is also a sector that is on trend in taking on the challenges of revitalising te Taiao, energy poverty, decarbonisation and climate change.
TMRE is a full service renewable energy business (sourcing materials, design, engineering and installation of renewable energy systems) creating quality employment for Māori. TMRE employs and contracts electricians, apprentices, engineers, trainers, designers and renewable energy innovators.
TMRE is now looking to establish renewable energy hubs in Tai Tokerau, Tai Rawhiti and Wairarapa. If you know of any electricians, tradespeople and apprentices in these rohe please let us know.
TMRE is a demonstration that with an innovation mindset, being entrepreneurial and a willingness to take calculated risks, the power of mahi tahi (collaboration) can achieve many things.
Lastly while it’s great to receive awards and acknowledgement from our peers in the industry, what makes up most proud is when we receive feedback from kaumatua and kuia such as follows “now we have solar we can keep our mokopuna warm in the morning and night”.
Tihei Mauri Ora!
