TLC office and depot construction site blessed and works underway
27 January 2026
The Lines Company (TLC) is pleased to announce that the TLC head office and depot construction project is underway following a site blessing by Ngāti Rōrā kaikarakia Isaiah Wallace early this morning.
“Our new base here in Te Kūiti represents more than bricks and timber. It symbolises our commitment to creating a safe, modern, people-first workplace. It shows our dedication to remaining local and to serving our communities well into the future. I’m looking forward to bringing our Te Kūiti based team together into one location, united in purpose – growing communities with energy,” said TLC Chief Executive Mike Fox.
“Today marks an important milestone for TLC. Before work begins, it is vital that we pause, acknowledge the whenua, honour those who have gone before us and set the foundations — not only for a building, but for the safety and wellbeing of all who will work here and visit here in the future.”
Livingstone Building was awarded the main contract for the redevelopment of our office and depot site at Waitete in Te Kūiti and is already on site.
“Livingstone Building is a Waikato-based organisation and has proven capability with builds of this type and size,” said TLC Chief Executive, Mike Fox. “During the construction period, the TLC team will continue to operate as normal, ensuring uninterrupted service to our customers.”
The new facility will be a fit-for-purpose, modern building and depot facility that will bring our northern-based teams together on one site.
Construction is scheduled to begin by the end of January 2026 and completion expected in November.
“It’s important for our customers and the public to know that, while we are redeveloping the site, TLC remains fully committed to delivering great service,” said Fox.
Our existing buildings and depot facilities have served us well, with the King St office being almost 70 years old and the Waitete depot over 40 years old. The existing buildings aren’t up to modern standards.
The new building will be energy efficient, resilient to earthquakes and equipped to support rapid response during major storms or natural disasters—ensuring we can keep the power on, and our communities connected when it matters most.
“We’re a lifeline utility. Following a natural disaster, we must be able to operate quickly and efficiently,” said Fox. “A modern, purpose-designed facility helps achieve this.
TLC is a people-first business, and this means creating an environment where our people can thrive and where we can provide great service to our customers. Having a modern, professional working environment is part of that and is important in attracting and retaining great people. Consolidating our northern operations will help us further build a cohesive team that can provide a more efficient service to customers.
“We are working alongside Waitomo District Council and other stakeholders to decide what might happen to the King Street building and site,” said Fox. “We absolutely guarantee that we will not leave the building vacant to become derelict.”
This project is not just about a new building—it’s about supporting our people, making our operations future-resilient, strengthening our service to our customers and investing in the future of our region.
This investment in Te Kūiti is a demonstration of TLC’s commitment to the region. It will ensure your TLC team stays local to serve our customers and community well for at least the next 50 years.