Aotea Group

What Aotea Group does

Aotea Group is a New Zealand nationwide network of 30 locally owned trade service businesses operating across 29+ locations and employing more than 1,600 industry experts under the parent entity AGHL Limited (founded 1970). The group delivers electrical, security, communications, fire alarm, heating and cooling, plumbing, and solar services to commercial, industrial, residential, rural, and public-sector clients, with notable project credentials including New Zealand's first IKEA store, the Forsyth Barr Stadium LED upgrade, University of Otago's first live-building CommScope GPON Passive Optical LAN, and the Highlands Motorsport Park $30M facility.

The company monetizes through a mix of one-time project-based electrical contracting (competitive tendering and negotiated contracts for new builds, fit-outs, and upgrades) and recurring revenue from 24/7 maintenance and servicing agreements, supplemented by Aotea National Services which delivers bundled facility management (CCTV, HVAC, plumbing, refrigeration, BWOF compliance, access control, sustainability) across multi-site enterprise portfolios under a single contract. Distribution is entirely direct via regional offices and a national call centre (0800 268 353), with all work performed by employed staff rather than subcontractors. Revenue concentration spans four primary customer segments — Commercial & Industrial, Residential, Rural & Agricultural, and Government/Public Sector — with marquee logos including Briscoes Group (85 sites), IKEA NZ, Westpac NZ, Meridian Energy, Queenstown Airport, and the University of Auckland.

Technically, Aotea integrates leading vendor platforms including KNX DALI and Casambi lighting controls, Schneider Electric power monitoring, Gallagher access control (largest NZ channel partner), Axis CCTV (Gold partner), CommScope GPON, Philips ArenaVision sports lighting, and Tether workplace analytics. The group holds Master Electricians, ECANZ, EcoSmart Electricians, Green Star, SiteSafe, IMPAC PreQual, and ISNetWorld certifications, and is led by CEO James Ewart (appointed May 2023) succeeding Paul Parsons after 37 years with the business. The operating model emphasizes locally owned branches with staff share schemes, internal apprenticeship pipelines via ETCO, and a national brand that preserves regional identity.

Name

Aotea Group

Legal name

AGHL Limited

Website

https://aoteagroup.nz

Company type

Private

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Aotea Group is a New Zealand nationwide network of 30 locally owned trade service businesses delivering electrical, security, communications, fire, HVAC, plumbing, and solar services across 29+ locations and 1,600+ staff to commercial, industrial, residential, rural, and government clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Auckland

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices11 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Electrical Contracting and Project Services: One-time project-based revenue from electrical installations across commercial, industrial, residential and rural projects. Revenue generated through competitive tendering and negotiated contracts for new builds, fit-outs, and upgrades.
2. Ongoing Maintenance and Servicing: Recurring revenue from maintenance contracts providing 24/7, 365-day service to commercial and residential clients. Includes planned maintenance programmes, reactive callouts, and ongoing service agreements across client property portfolios.
3. National Facilities Management: Single-entity national facilities management services covering multiple trade disciplines (HVAC, plumbing, CCTV, refrigeration, BWOF compliance) under one contract for multi-site clients.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Aotea Group delivers trade services across electrical, security, communications, fire alarms, heating and cooling, plumbing, and solar through a nationwide network of 30 locally owned businesses operating in 29+ locations across every region of New Zealand. The group provides both one-time project-based installations and ongoing 24/7 maintenance contracts, with Aotea National Services enabling multi-site clients to access all regional businesses under a single contract. Services span commercial, residential, industrial, rural, and government sectors, delivered by over 1,600 employed trade experts.

Product overview

Aotea Group is a nationwide network of 30 locally-owned trade service companies operating across New Zealand, providing expert electrical, security, communications, fire alarms, heating and cooling, plumbing, and solar services. The company operates under a unified brand while maintaining local ownership, with over 1,600 employees across 29+ locations. The core offering is trade services delivered through regional businesses, supplemented by Aotea National Services which provides coordinated multi-site facility management including CCTV, HVAC, handyman services, catering equipment, plumbing, project management, sustainability solutions, access control, BWOF compliance, and refrigeration. The company also offers specialized divisions for automation and EV charging infrastructure. Services are delivered across commercial, residential, industrial and rural sectors with national coverage but local expertise.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Aotea Electric: Electrical services division covering commercial, residential, and industrial electrical work
• Aotea Security
• Aotea Communications
• Aotea National Services
• Buzz Electrics

Products and services

• Electrical Services

Quantifiable outcome

• 33% improvement in lighting levels and approximately $50,000 direct power saving per year for Briscoes & Rebel Sport
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers26 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration17 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• NuGreen Solutions NZcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSustainability partner for LED retrofit and energy efficiency projects. Collaborated on Briscoes Group national lighting upgrade programme achieving 33% improvement in lighting levels and $50K annual power savings per store.
• TethercoreTechnology or IntegrationWorkplace optimisation technology partner providing real-time occupancy intelligence for the Westpac NZ workplace programme. Combined Aotea + Tether solution delivered visibility of meeting room utilisation, desk occupancy, and café flow patterns.
• PhilipsTechnology or IntegrationLED lighting and control systems partner across multiple projects including UCOL LED upgrades (Interact Pro), Forsyth Barr Stadium (Philips ArenaVision LED sports lights), and Westpac EV charging and LED programme.
• SignifycoreTechnology or IntegrationLong-standing design partner for lighting projects. Partnered with Aotea Electric Southern on the original Forsyth Barr Stadium electrical works (2008-2010) and the 2024 lighting upgrade with LED ArenaVision systems.
• GallaghercoreTechnology or IntegrationAotea Security is Gallagher's largest Channel Partner in New Zealand. Gallagher access control systems are a core technology used across security installations for major clients.
• CommScopecoreTechnology or IntegrationDelivered New Zealand's first live-building CommScope GPON Passive Optical LAN installation at University of Otago Science III building, transforming copper network to future-ready fibre infrastructure.
• Schneider ElectriccoreTechnology or IntegrationPower monitoring and energy management systems used in Pak'nSave Rolleston project - Schneider systems integrated for energy and power monitoring across the facility.
• Highlands Motorsport ParkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing electrical services relationship for the $30 million motorsport facility. Aotea Electric Cromwell is their electrical service provider of choice.
• Meridian EnergycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to install public electric vehicle charging stations across New Zealand - one of the most significant initiatives to combat climate change through transportation electrification.
• DownerminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAotea Westland is the trade service provider of choice for Downer in the West Coast region, delivering electrical projects including Greymouth Court House.
• Westfleet SeafoodsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociated electrical contractor since 2006. Sub-contractor for new factory build (with CYB Construction) in 2014 and chiller build in 2019. Ongoing electrical servicing provider.
• CYB Construction LimitedminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerMain contractor for Westfleet Seafoods new factory build on which Aotea Westland was electrical sub-contractor.
• ETCO (Electrification Training Company)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorETCO apprentice placement partner for Aotea Electric Southern. Zac Fitzgerald-Geddes was an Etco apprentice who won the 2019 Master Electricians Apprentice Challenge and went on to represent New Zealand at WorldSkills.
• Stannah Stair LiftsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAotea Electric is an agent for Stannah Stair Lifts, providing free design and advisory service for residential stair lift installations.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Programmed (Persol): Australia/NZ facility maintenance and trade services provider with electrical, plumbing and HVAC capabilities; comparable multi-site enterprise customer engagement model.
• ISS A/S: Global facility services company operating in New Zealand across technical services, cleaning and security; comparable national-account single-contract value proposition.
• Fulton Hogan: NZ-headquartered infrastructure contractor with utilities, civil and electrical services capabilities; competes with Aotea on regional and national project tenders across transport and infrastructure verticals.
• Downer Group: ASX-listed infrastructure services group with substantial New Zealand operations delivering electrical, communications and facilities services to utilities, transport and government — directly overlaps with Aotea's customer mix and competes for similar large project work.
• Spotless Group: Australia/NZ facility services provider offering HVAC, electrical, plumbing and maintenance; comparable multi-trade national coverage and target enterprise customer base.

Others

• Schneider Electric: Global energy management and automation technology vendor that supplies power monitoring, lighting and energy systems integrated by Aotea; adjacent as a technology partner and channel ecosystem participant.
• CBRE Group: Global real estate and facilities services firm with NZ presence; relevant as a downstream customer or partner for facility management services rather than a direct trade competitor.
• Cushman & Wakefield: Global facilities and real estate services firm with NZ operations; comparable as a national-account channel for facility services procurement though not a direct trade competitor.
• Stantec: Global engineering and project services firm with significant NZ presence across infrastructure and buildings; adjacent rather than directly competing for electrical trade services.

Direct peers

• Electrix: NZ-based electrical contractor serving utilities, infrastructure and commercial clients; directly competes with Aotea Electric on large electrical tenders in NZ.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/aoteagroup
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/aotea-group

Compliance8 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Aotea Group