EPE opens new, expand New Zealand HQ

EPE New Zealand has officially opened its new and expanded headquarters in Upper Hutt, marking a significant milestone in the company’s growth since establishing its New Zealand presence in 2014. The occasion was celebrated with an Opening Event, followed by a Demonstration Day, showcasing EPE’s mission critical capabilities to valued customers and partners. The new 600 square metre facility in Upper Hutt serves as EPE’s New Zealand headquarters, housing state-of-the-art administrative offices, a warehouse, and a maintenance and distribution centre. EPE Group CEO Warwick Penrose said, “The release of the Defence Capability Plan sets out an ambitious investment programme to ensure New Zealand has the capabilities, infrastructure, and services needed to protect its people and interests. The Plan also identifies three Strategic Industrial Base Priorities that will shape the future of Defence Industry partnerships: space capabilities; uncrewed systems and counter-systems; and sustainment. These priorities align directly with EPE’s expertise, and we are ready to support Defence as these priorities move from strategy into delivery.” Warwick added “The Plan makes one thing clear: delivering on those objectives and priorities cannot be achieved by Defence alone. It requires industry “trusted partners” to deliver capability, sustain it through-life, and help ensure operational readiness. Over the past decade, EPE NZ has grown into a Tier 1 Defence Support partner with five Master Service Agreements. Through our partnership with UROVESA under the Utility Vehicle Replacement Program, we now have a 20-year sustainment pipeline, a foundation that gives us the confidence to invest further in people, infrastructure, and innovation right here in New Zealand.” The opening event was attended by distinguished guests, including senior representatives from the New Zealand Ministry of Defence, the New Zealand Defence Force and the Mayor of Upper Hutt. The subsequent Demonstration Day provided hands-on opportunities for EPE customers and end users to explore the latest advanced capabilities for defence, law enforcement, border security, and other applications. EPE New Zealand General Manager Andy Cross underscored the strategic importance of the Upper Hutt location. “Our new facility positions us to deliver unparalleled support to the NZDF on critical projects, including Counter Explosive Hazards, Network Enabled Army Reconnaissance and Surveillance, and support of UROVESA VAMTAC vehicles for the Protected Mobility Capability Project (PMCP),” Cross said. “We are deeply grateful for the trust and support of our customers and partners. This new larger facility establishes EPE NZ for future growth and the ability to support additional capabilities relevant to future projects.” For Editorial Inquiries Contact: Editor Kym Bergmann at [email protected] For Advertising Inquiries Contact: Group Sales Director Simon Hadfield at [email protected]