Dunedin City Holdings Limited (DCHL) has confirmed Steve Thompson will step down as Chair of Aurora Energy Limited, with his final day in the role being 30 September.
Mr Thompson has chaired Aurora for 10 years, a period over which the business has been fundamentally transformed from one facing significant operational and reputational challenges into a regulated network that is widely respected and recognised as a leader in the New Zealand electricity distribution sector, said DCHL Chair, Tim Loan.
Mr Loan said Mr Thompson’s contribution to Aurora, to the wider Dunedin City Council group, and to the communities Aurora serves, had been exceptional.
“Steve has steered Aurora through one of the most consequential transitions of any infrastructure business in New Zealand,” he said.
“He inherited a network and an organisation under intense scrutiny, and over a decade has overseen its rebuild – physically, operationally, financially, and culturally.
“The Aurora of 2026 is a profoundly different company to the Aurora of 2016, and Steve’s leadership is at the heart of that change.”
Under DCHL’s governance policy, directors of council-controlled trading organisations typically serve a maximum of nine years. Recognising the importance of continuity at a critical juncture for Aurora, DCHL sought approval from the Dunedin City Council (DCC) to extend Mr Thompson’s tenure beyond that limit so he could see the business through to the conclusion of the CPP regulatory period.
Mr Loan said the extension reflected the board’s confidence in Mr Thompson and the value of leadership stability during the CPP delivery phase.
“Completing the CPP successfully was an outcome of importance for Aurora’s consumers but also of national significance for the EDB sector. Steve’s continued chairmanship through that period gave the business the governance continuity it needed, and the results speak for themselves.”
He said DCHL was pleased that Mr Thompson has agreed to a long handover and transition period, which will support the incoming Chair, the Aurora board, and the Chief Executive and his team.
Mr Thompson said it had been a privilege to chair Aurora through such a defining period.
“When I joined the board, Aurora faced significant challenges and the road ahead was a hard one,” he said.
“What has been achieved since is a credit to the Aurora team, our contractor partners, successive boards, and the leadership of CEO Richard Fletcher and his executive.
“Aurora today is a safer, more reliable, and more respected business and one that is well placed to play its part in New Zealand’s energy future.
“After 10 years, the time is right for new chairmanship to lead the next chapter, and I am committed to supporting a smooth handover.”
DCHL will now progress the appointment of a replacement Chair through its standard director appointment process.
An announcement on the new Chair will be made in due course.
