Founded nearly 90 years ago in Northland, it’s a proudly Māori-owned company. It regularly delivers renewable energy projects in support of New Zealand’s aspirations for a sustainable future.
The firm provided charging equipment for “Sparky” and Ports of Auckland’s electric tug boat. It delivered the Ika Rere Ferry in Wellington, the first fully electric passenger ferry in the Southern Hemisphere. McKay also provide electric and hybrid propulsion systems for the New Zealand Navy.
But it’s also turned its tools on to electrifying its own facilities.
In 2023, McKay installed a 30-kilowatt rooftop solar array. This was designed by its own engineers on its Whangārei head office in partnership with local company, Solartive. In 2024, it generated just over 42,000 kilowatt-hours of clean electricity. That’s enough to supply around 60% of the office’s weekday energy needs and charge McKay’s growing EV fleet. Mckay also partners with Ecotricity, a Toitū Climate Positive-certified provider of 100% renewable energy.
Each year, the solar array avoids around 3.1 tonnes of CO₂ emissions. That’s roughly the same as taking one petrol car off the road for a full year. Any surplus energy was donated through Empower Energy for households facing energy hardship. That platform has unfortunately since closed, but McKay is exploring new ways to share its solar capability for community benefit.
McKay’s Sustainability Manager, Miranda Chetham, encouraged businesses considering electrification get started. “Make small steps and just start. As soon as you have solar, there is an immediate and measurable impact”, she says.
Brandon Munford, one of their talented engineers, is now developing an interactive dashboard with input from other staff. It displays real-time solar data into the office. This will help connect the company’s people to the difference they’re collectively making. For McKay, electrification just makes sense. It’s practical, measurable and driven by its own expertise.