Chorus appoints Programmed as new caretaker for NZ sites

Chorus has appointed a new operations and maintenance caretaker for its 2,600 sites across NZ.

Programmed has won a competitive bid to maintain Chorus' property portfolio in a potential eight-year, multi-million-dollar contract.

Commencing 1 July 2022, the deal will see Programmed manage end-to-end reactive and planned preventative maintenance as well as minor works for Chorus sites, with up to date and innovative technologies being utilised.

Chorus says the deal will help support the integrity of buildings and infrastructure services that support the country's critical communications network, with special focus on telephone exchanges, buildings, towers, fibre cables and more in both urban and rural locations.

They say that upkeep is crucially important because some of these pieces of infrastructure were built over 100 years ago to house the very first automatic exchange equipment.

Programmed's innovative technology, including drones and 3D modelling, was a key reason for the win and is said to help promote the success of long-term management and investment plans for customers.

Chorus GM customer and network operations Andrew Carroll says the new partnership will help ensure the optimisation of Chorus's portfolio for better customer experiences.

"Now more than ever, Chorus has a critical role in ensuring New Zealanders remain online and connected," he says.

"Optimising the management of our property portfolio is essential in ensuring this, and we're pleased to be at the start of building a new collaborative relationship with Programmed."

Programmed general manager of facilities management NZ Henry Arundel agrees.

"Tech is such an important part of what we do but it's the people driving the business that make it a success.

"We've found a way to integrate the decades of knowledge that our staff and verified providers hold with leading edge tech that help large, complex businesses run like clockwork," he says.

The contract with Chorus will also create approximately over 100 jobs in Programmed's network of service providers, creating stability and income for businesses big and small around Aotearoa.
 
Programmed's approach also sets out to curb COVID-19 workforce challenges for its customers and help ensure businesses like Chorus can focus on growth and continue providing the best services to their customers.

The company currently maintains thousands of assets across New Zealand, with over 750 pre-qualified subcontractors executing required works under significant performance parameters.

They work across sites in public housing, education, health, infrastructure, manufacturing, transport and mining. Customers include the Ministry of Education, KiwiRail, Te Āhuru Mōwai, and Fonterra.