Powerco wins energy industry Wellbeing Award
Powerco has won the Wellbeing Award at the 2025 New Zealand Energy Excellence Awards, held in Wellington on Wednesday evening.
The award recognised Powerco’s work for embedding Te Whare Tapa Whā - the holistic Māori model of wellbeing - into its leadership development for the benefit of the company’s leaders and employees.
On behalf of Powerco, Head of People and Culture, Leile Sims, accepted the award, which celebrates energy sector excellence in caring for our people in the industry.
“I feel so grateful to work in a business with wonderful, innovative leaders that support this programme that recognises our leaders as people whose wellbeing and wairua matters and shapes the way we lead,” she said.
The judges said Powerco were “well-deserved winners of this year’s Wellbeing Award for their inspiring Leadership Development Programme, grounded in Māori principles and wisdom”.
“Built on deep research and connection with Māori thought leaders, the programme fosters personal resilience, self-leadership, and cultural connection. It has transformed Powerco - boosting performance, engagement, and Māori representation - and sets a powerful benchmark for organisations embracing Aotearoa’s cultural growth.”
Delivered over four modules – Leading Foundations, Leading Self, Leading Others and Leading Business – the bespoke leadership development programme (LDP) integrates tikanga, te reo Māori, emotional intelligence and psychological safety into every aspect of leadership.
Powerco’s LDP has been designed in collaboration with Māori thought leaders, academics, authors, organisational development and wellbeing practitioners, and community partners.
Participants gain self-awareness and greater empathy for those they work with, while learning practical tools for resilience, conflict resolution and inclusive leadership.
Every participant to date has reported increased emotional and cultural competence, with more than 70% having stepped into new leadership roles or expanded responsibilities. Added to that, Powerco’s employee Net Promoter Score has increased to record levels, which correlates with the impact leadership has on people’s experience at work.
The award recognised Powerco’s work for embedding Te Whare Tapa Whā - the holistic Māori model of wellbeing - into its leadership development for the benefit of the company’s leaders and employees.
On behalf of Powerco, Head of People and Culture, Leile Sims, accepted the award, which celebrates energy sector excellence in caring for our people in the industry.
“I feel so grateful to work in a business with wonderful, innovative leaders that support this programme that recognises our leaders as people whose wellbeing and wairua matters and shapes the way we lead,” she said.
The judges said Powerco were “well-deserved winners of this year’s Wellbeing Award for their inspiring Leadership Development Programme, grounded in Māori principles and wisdom”.
“Built on deep research and connection with Māori thought leaders, the programme fosters personal resilience, self-leadership, and cultural connection. It has transformed Powerco - boosting performance, engagement, and Māori representation - and sets a powerful benchmark for organisations embracing Aotearoa’s cultural growth.”
Delivered over four modules – Leading Foundations, Leading Self, Leading Others and Leading Business – the bespoke leadership development programme (LDP) integrates tikanga, te reo Māori, emotional intelligence and psychological safety into every aspect of leadership.
Powerco’s LDP has been designed in collaboration with Māori thought leaders, academics, authors, organisational development and wellbeing practitioners, and community partners.
Participants gain self-awareness and greater empathy for those they work with, while learning practical tools for resilience, conflict resolution and inclusive leadership.
Every participant to date has reported increased emotional and cultural competence, with more than 70% having stepped into new leadership roles or expanded responsibilities. Added to that, Powerco’s employee Net Promoter Score has increased to record levels, which correlates with the impact leadership has on people’s experience at work.
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