What McMahon does

McMahon Ltd (trading as McMahon Electrical Engineering) is a privately held New Zealand electrical engineering consultancy founded in 1984, headquartered in Auckland with regional offices in Tauranga, Napier, and New Plymouth. The firm provides end-to-end electrical engineering services across six integrated practice areas: generation (hydro, geothermal, diesel, gas), distribution and transmission (11kV to 110kV networks, switchyard design, earthing, protection), industrial (LV distribution, motor control, UPS, power factor correction), control systems (SCADA, PLC, DCS, instrumentation), engineering services (power system modelling, arc flash studies, power quality investigations, CAD and 3D modelling), and project management (feasibility, cost estimating, site supervision, commissioning). It serves a predominantly enterprise client base spanning power generation utilities, dairy processors, pulp and paper, mining, water and wastewater, healthcare, petrochemical, and government/defense sectors.

The technology stack is built on specialist power-system software (ETAP for load flow, fault levels, arc flash, and protection coordination; DigSILENT and CYMCAP) combined with in-house CAD and 3D modelling capabilities. Deliverables are produced by Chartered Members of Engineering New Zealand and supported by working directors (John Butcher and Stephen Peters) who remain actively engaged in engineering work. The firm has executed international projects, including a power station upgrade in Chuuk FSM, indicating offshore delivery capability beyond the domestic market.

The business operates on a professional services revenue model with quote-based consulting engagements, supplemented by a smaller usage-based revenue stream from equipment rental (Fluke 435 Series 2 power quality meters). Go-to-market relies on brand reputation, an extensive logo wall of New Zealand blue-chip clients (Fonterra, Genesis, Contact Energy, Meridian, Z Energy, NZ Defence Force, Watercare, Auckland Council, and others), downloadable capability brochures, and a filterable project portfolio. Pricing is not publicly disclosed, and there is no evidence of external institutional funding, M&A activity, or public listing.

Name

McMahon

Legal name

McMahon Ltd

Website

https://mcmahon.co.nz

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

McMahon Ltd is a New Zealand electrical engineering consultancy with over 40 years of experience delivering power generation, distribution, industrial, and control systems engineering services to enterprise and government clients across energy, dairy, water, healthcare, and defense sectors domestically and internationally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Electrical Engineering Services

NAICS

Electric Power Transmission, Control, and Distribution (22112), Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution (2211)

SIC

Electric Services (4911), Water, Sewer, Pipeline, Comm & Power Line Construction (1623)

akta.pro primary industry

Protection, Control & SCADA/Automation Installation (Relay Panels, RTUs) (IMAFAHAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Hydropower Digital, Controls & SCADA/Automation (EUACAEAI), Medium/Low-Voltage Power Distribution (MCCs, Panels, UPS, Grounding) (EUAEAFAB), SCADA, Controls & Communications Integration (RTU, Fiber, Networking) (EUAEADAD)

Keywords

• Electrical engineering services
• Power system analysis
• Power generation engineering
• Control systems design
• Project management consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Auckland

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Electrical Engineering Consulting Services: Professional engineering services including investigative and feasibility studies, engineering cost estimates, detailed design, project management, and commissioning assistance. Services span generation, distribution, industrial, control systems, and engineering services.
2. Equipment Rental Services: Rental of specialized power quality measurement equipment including Fluke 435 Series 2 power meters for on-site power system analysis

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

McMahon is a New Zealand electrical engineering consultancy delivering end-to-end services from investigative and feasibility studies through detailed design, installation supervision, and commissioning. Its offering spans generation (hydro, geothermal, diesel, gas), distribution and transmission (11kV to 110kV networks), industrial electrical systems, control systems (SCADA, PLC, DCS), power system analysis, and project management for enterprise clients.

Product overview

McMahon is an electrical engineering consultancy with over 40 years of experience providing comprehensive engineering services throughout New Zealand and internationally. The company operates as a single integrated service offering rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture. Their core service portfolio spans six main areas: Generation Services (hydro, geothermal, diesel, gas power generation and generator control refurbishment), Distribution & Transmission Services (11kV to 110kV networks, switchyard designs, earthing and protection), Industrial Services (LV distribution, motor control, power factor correction, UPS), Control Systems Services (SCADA, PLC, DCS, instrumentation), Engineering Services (power system modelling, arc flash studies, CAD/3D modelling), and Project Management (feasibility studies through commissioning). Additionally, McMahon offers supporting resources including capability brochures, power studies documentation, water/waste sector brochures, CAD services brochures, and equipment rental (Fluke power quality meters). The company has two working Directors supported by offices in Auckland, Tauranga, Napier, and New Plymouth.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Generation Services

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Consultancies in Complimentary DisciplinescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMcMahon maintains close alliances with consultancies in complimentary disciplines (mechanical, civil, structural, etc.) to collaboratively deliver projects requiring multidisciplinary engagement. This partnership network enables delivery of comprehensive engineering solutions.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• GHD: Australia/NZ-headquartered engineering consultancy with NZ power, water and industrial electrical practices, competing for similar mid-sized generation and distribution engagements.
• Worley: Global energy-focused engineering consultancy with NZ operations, providing generation, transmission and industrial electrical services closely aligned to McMahon's portfolio.
• Aurecon: Asia-Pacific engineering consultancy with a substantial NZ practice covering power generation, grid and industrial electrical engineering — directly overlapping McMahon's service lines.
• Mott MacDonald: Global engineering consultancy with NZ power generation and T&D projects, offering multidisciplinary services that overlap McMahon's hydro, geothermal and industrial electrical work.
• Tonkin + Taylor: NZ environmental and engineering consultancy with water, infrastructure and power practices — competes with McMahon on water/wastewater and energy infrastructure projects across NZ.
• Beca Group: Largest NZ-headquartered engineering consultancy offering power generation, transmission and distribution services across the same client base (Genesis, Meridian, Contact Energy) as McMahon.

Broad incumbents

• Jacobs: Global engineering consultancy active in NZ power, water and critical infrastructure — competes on larger generation and transmission programmes where McMahon is typically sub-scale.
• AECOM: Global infrastructure consultancy with NZ power, water and industrial practices — competes on multi-disciplinary programmes that include McMahon's specialty electrical scopes.
• WSP: Global engineering giant with NZ power and infrastructure presence; broader portfolio but competes for the same generation, distribution and industrial electrical engagements.
• Stantec: Global engineering consultancy with NZ operations covering power, water and industrial infrastructure — overlaps McMahon's water/wastewater and generation specialties as part of a broader portfolio.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mcmahon

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 McMahon