Member Spotlight – TEL Electrical, Electronic & Solar

TEL – Built on Personalities & Whānau, Guided by Values

Peter & Amanda Walsh, and Mark O’Neill | TEL Electrical & Electronic Services and Repairs
For Peter, Amanda & Mark, success has never just been about the work — it’s been about the overall creation, culture & whānau.

Originally both from the Taranaki township of Stratford, they both spent their young working lives in Taranaki before both heading off on their journeys across the world, both working in Australia & London & Peter carrying on to land himself in Africa & work in Zimbabwe, Zambia, South Africa and Botswana for 12 years. Returning home at different times to Aotearoa was a conscious decision for both, with Mark a bit earlier, it was to carry on with the family farm & Peter, after being away for 15 years, it was to raise their children close to grandparents, brothers, sisters, culture, and upon returning home felt a strong sense of belonging.

Peter joined TEL back in 2012 when it was only an Electronics and Sky TV servicing business, but it didn’t take long for TEL to grow from having no Electrical to now a business with 26 full time staff in the Electrical Division and 3 on the Electronics sides.

Today, with TEL being a 50% Māori owned company, Peter leads TEL Electrical, Electronic Services and Repairs alongside co-owners, his wife, Amanda (Ngāti Huia, Ngāti Raukawa ki te Tonga, Ngāti Toa Rangitira, Te Āti Haunui-a-Pāpārangi) and long-term friend Mark O’Neill where Mark joined back in 2013, as a proud company and member of the Taranaki Māori Business Network, TEL is a proud Taranaki based business employing 29 full time staff. The directors of TEL together with their multi-talented staff pride themselves with delivering professional design, supply and installation services across all aspects of Electrical & Solar projects from residential homes and alterations through to large-scale, multi-level developments. Notable projects include both the Ryman and Summerset Retirement Villages, the new, New Plymouth Airport, the new offices for PKW on Leach Street, Countdown on Hori Street, TSB Business Hub and Stadium Taranaki (formerly Yarrows Stadium), among many others.

The director’s personal favourite, however, is the full six level refurbishment of Ngāmotu House, when first starting on site this project had a sense of something very special and it didn’t disappoint as it certainly delivered. Despite the scale and diversity of their work, TEL is grounded in a simple and consistent approach, people, whether it is their customers or staff, come first.

Whānau has always been central to how the directors of TEL live and lead, that same sense of connection continues to shape how TEL approaches business and customers alike today. At the end of the day, this is a whānau and we are proud of it Peter says.

TEL’s leadership style is grounded in trust, they give the team responsibility early, avoids micromanaging, and backs them to grow into their roles. Apprentices are brought through with care, not just trained, but guided rotating across different parts of the business so they leave with confidence and capability. “Once you’re qualified, that’s when the real learning and responsibility starts” Peter says. That trust goes both ways, the directors, supervisors and lead electricians encourage their staff to take pride in their work, their presentation, and how they represent themselves within the business or even out in the community, from tidy, clean vans to respectful service on site with a good attitude, it’s about accountability, but more importantly about respect for and of others.

At TEL, connection is intentionally built into the working week. Friday afternoons often mean pizzas or a BBQ and a couple of quiet ones. This allows time to come together for a chat about the week that has been, and at times an ex-employees pop in. For younger apprentices especially, it creates a sense of belonging, turning a workplace into something more like an extended family.

That deep commitment of success, of the TEL journey, Peter attributes a lot to both the TEL staff and his own whānau.

Peter speaks with immense pride about his staff, but even more so about his wife, Amanda, who plays a key role in the business. He is especially proud of their three daughters, who stand strongly in Te Ao Māori — one is an architect, another is a lawyer based in London, and their youngest, in her final year of law, is completing part of her degree through a university exchange in London. Peter says his daughters have always kept him on his toes, often correcting him when needed. Watching them embrace Te Reo Māori and stand confidently in their identity has been one of the most defining and rewarding highlights of his life.

“We’ve been lucky,” as both Peter and Mark reflect, as our intention has always been about giving others the same opportunities as we had growing up.

For the directors of TEL, success isn’t just measured in projects completed, but in people growing into something they want to be and are comfortable with, TEL is a business built on trust, strengthened by whānau and all who want to, and carried forward all together.