We’re incredibly proud to have collaborated in the incredible project which has taken home three major lighting awards for a community space right in the middle of Auckland’s Ponsonby Road.

Te Rimutahi is an eye-catching, architecturally designed, public space, designed for people to meet, play, relax and watch the world go by.

At the 2025 IESANZ Australia and New Zealand Lighting Awards, our work on Te Rimutahi took home three major accolades: The Royal Astronomical Society of New Zealand (RASNZ) Dark Skies Award, a Commendation Award, and the People’s Choice Award.

It’s recognition we’re incredibly proud of – not just because of the trophies, but because it reflects how our technical excellence can work together with environmental responsibility and community-focused design.

The Dark Skies Award recognises efforts to protect the night environment by minimising light pollution in surrounding areas and the sky above.

“Seeing how the lights affect the space at night, and seeing people relax, talk and enjoy the area on a warm weekend night, is something we’re really proud to be part of.” Shamus – Director No Shock Electrical

Smart systems at the heart of the award

The lighting design (by Beca) and its intelligent systems stood out to both judges and the public.

Working alongside Intelligent Environments, who designed the smart systems, No Shock installed a system specifically tailored to an outdoor civic environment, including:

• Daylight-responsive control – A daylight sensor automatically ramps lighting up at dusk and dims or switches it off at dawn. This removes the need for manual intervention and ensures energy is only used when it’s needed.
• Multi-zone lighting control – Te Rimutahi features a wide variety of luminaires, all zoned for consistency, functionality and flexibility. These include dappled downlights and uplights in the covered canopy, wall and ceiling lights, spotlights mounted to structural I-beams, LED strip lighting integrated into handrails and seating, and bollard and pole lights around the perimeter.
• Integrated public space flexibility – The control system allows the lighting environment to shift depending on how the space is used, from everyday foot traffic through to community events, supporting smooth transitions from day to night.

Award-winning lighting without visual clutter

One of the biggest technical challenges was delivering this level of sophistication without letting the technology dominate the space. Lighting and controls needed to blend into the architecture rather than sit on top of it.

“One of the challenges was working with existing structures, using metal conduits to wrap around beams and columns without taking away from the beauty of the site.” Shamus – No Shock

LEDs were integrated directly into handrails and seating, fittings were carefully positioned, and controls were discreetly housed. The result is a space where people feel the impact of good lighting without being consciously aware of how complex the system behind it really is.

From broken site to award-winning space

“Seeing the site take shape, going from an old, broken, industrial site to a mix of old, new and open green spaces, has been a real highlight. Having all this mix and merge to be a really nice place to visit and relax.” Shamus -No Shock

For No Shock Electrical, these awards reflect what we aim for on every project: smart systems that work quietly in the background, respect their environment, and reflect the way people experience a space.

Te Rimutahi  - Key Contributors

Beca Lighting: Key role in the lighting design.

LandLAB: Lead landscape architects, working with tangata whenua.

Cassidy Construction: Lead construction Contractors

No Shock Electrical: lighting installation expertise.

Intelligent Environments: Supplied the lighting control system.

For lighting solutions that enhance public, commercial and residential spaces, contact No Shock to discuss your project.