Sue Hughes Farewell | Reflecting on a Family Legacy

                                                 The Hughes whānau. (L-R) Shelley, Geoff, Sue, Chris

Last Friday our Kā te Rama Switched On Group whānau gathered at the Christchurch office for a special farewell to celebrate and acknowledge Sue Hughes and her husband Geoff Hughes' remarkable journey with the company.

Together with her husband Geoff, Sue helped build Switched On from their own home – working from a simple desk tucked into their wardrobe - into the nationwide organisation we are proud to be today.

It was a relaxed, genuine afternoon full of smiles, stories and a few emotional moments. A beautiful haka was performed which was a powerful and moving tribute that spoke to the mana and respect Sue and Geoff have earned over the years. Their children, former CEO Chris Hughes, and daughter Shelley who has also played an integral part in the Group over the years, were there to support them and share a proud milestone for the family.

Our Regional Delivery Manager Greg McKeeman who has been with the Switched On whānau for over a decade, shared some lovely words, taking us through the different chapters of Switched On’s journey and reminding us just how much of that history was shaped by Sue and Geoff.

In the early 1980s, Sue and Geoff launched their first venture, Geoff Hughes Electrical, from their family home. With three young children, a makeshift office, and more determination than resources, they set out to build a business that would support their family and serve their community.

By 1988, they rebranded as Switched On Electrical and secured work with Housing New Zealand long before cell phones, GPS, or digital scheduling. Geoff worked across Christchurch with a daily printed run sheet, while Sue balanced night shifts with the meticulous financial work that kept the business afloat.

As demand grew in the early 1990s, the company expanded into multiple trades and became Switched On Contracting. More teams joined the fold and Switched On became the sole electrical provider for Housing New Zealand in Canterbury. The business moved across several premises over the years, all while juggling the everyday challenges of running a true family operation, before setting up for the next 11 years in Marshland Road.

Over the next decade, the business continued to evolve, expanding across the country and doubling in size more than once, as well as navigating major industry changes and the Canterbury earthquakes in the 2010s. In 2016 the company finally settled on Frank Coxon Road, Christchurch, the location of our head office. The most difficult moment came with the tragic loss of their son Jonny in 2018. In that heartbreaking time, the values Sue and Geoff had always embodied of compassion, kindness and empathy became the strength the team leaned on to support one another.

In the last 5 years the business has continued to scale massively. Under Chris’s leadership in 2020, Switched On won the R07 Kāinga Ora contract and doubled in size almost overnight, all while navigating COVID lockdowns. In 2021, Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira became 50% (now 82.47%) shareholders, strengthening our iwi connect and gifting us the name Kā te Rama. And in 2025, another major step forward came with the acquisition of PAE NZ, once again doubling the organisation and strengthening its presence across Aotearoa.

That brings us to today. A nationwide company still growing.

Sue and Geoff’s sacrifices, long nights, tough decisions, and fierce dedication have shaped the organisation, and their influence can be seen and felt in every part of the company. Their leadership marks the end of an era for our Group, one of unwavering commitment to people and community.

They didn’t just leave things better than they found them they built the very foundation we stand on. As we carry the Hughes whānau legacy into the future, we do so with immense gratitude, pride, and respect.

Sue - enjoy your well‑earned retirement. Thank you both for everything.