New Zealand Electrical Institute

The New Zealand Institute of Electricians as it was formally known was formed out of necessity. The first set of Electrical Regulations had been operative since 1927 and each Electrician and  Supply Authority had their own interpretation of them. In 1935 fresh regulations had been gazetted and their multifarious interpretations were going to bring confusion in the industry to a head.

The confusion was so bad that a meeting was called by a Mr. T R Overton, Engineer to the South Taranaki Electric Power Board between the Board and the Electrical Contractors. At the most the convener hoped that no one would come to blows. Feeling were running so high that the two parties took drastic steps to avoid contact with each other.

It must have been with a measure of faith that Mr. Overton called to the Board room in Hawera the Electrical men of South Taranaki. Inspector, faultmen, contractors, electricians etc. individually they filed into the room.

Mr. Overton was a big man about 6ft 3in and more than 15 stone. He was also big in his approach to this problem. He stressed the necessity for men in the electrical industry to take a unified interpretation of the regulations, the men of the industry found themselves forgetting old differences. It was the first opportunity they had ever had to get to grips, one with another, with this common and formidable foe.

At the end of the meeting they didn’t split up and leave individually. They were gathered in groups, still animatedly discussing the problems of each which now had become the problems of all. It was at this moment that the idea of an Association of Electricians was born in October 1935.

The meeting had been watched closely by a man who – as far as old squabbles were concerned – was possibly the only disinterested party. Now he was the most interested man in the room, for as the meeting broke up, into all it’s small groups, the alert observer, Mr Martin S Smith, asked a question of himself, -

“ Wouldn’t it be in the interests of all us all if we continued to meet ? ” Engineer to the Hawera Hospital Board this man with the easy manner and strong personality was fired with an ideal. Soon to become the father of the Electricians Institute of New Zealand, though he could not have foreseen it then, he had realized that something must be done to bring about understanding between the Supply Authority officers, the Electrical Contractors and the Electricians. But to go further, he realized the necessity for electrical wiremen not only improving their electrical knowledge, but also qualifying themselves educationally and socially – not only for a skilled trade but also for a profession.

At the same time he wanted to help the apprentices. Mr. Overton’s meeting presented Martin Smith with the opportunity of expounding these ideas, which he did in no uncertain manner. And so arrangements were made for calling of a meeting to form an Electrician’s Association. This was “ to enable members to meet and discuss their problems, thus promoting a better understanding of each other’s views.”

This historic meeting was held on 3 October 1935 with Mr. Overton as Chairman.

Martin S Smith, M.B.E. became the Founder and First President of the Institute and is remembered today by the Martin Smith Award within the Institute.

It can be seen that some of those problems are still around today even if not to the same extent. We are still joined by a common desire to advance our knowledge of the increasingly complex developments within the industry, both at Branch and National level. By disseminating knowledge at our Branch meetings, by means of miscellaneous speakers and demonstrations and at National level by our annual Conference and representation on various bodies allied to the industry.

Membership of Branches of the New Zealand Electrical Institute can only benefit you. Contact the National Secretary at nzei@xtra.co.nz for more details.