If you’re in Gisborne this summer, plug into the Electric Village. It’s a community hub for information about solar power and other emerging energy technologies. Printing for the exhibits was handled by Soar.
For this public display project, situated in a historic building near the harbour, Soar’s large format digital specialist Richard Davy had to pull a rabbit out of a hat. Actually, several rabbits. He had only three weeks to manufacture all the exhibits, followed by just three and a half days for installation.
“Rees Morley of Morley Design Group did the design for the fit out, then we pulled out all the stops to make it happen. It was a high-pressure situation, because the deadline was so tight, but we got there.”

Conceived by the Eastland Group, the Electric Village is a ‘one-stop-shop’ for energy ideas and advice. Its interactive exhibits present important information about the past, present and future of energy technology. Electric bikes and vehicles are a highlight of the exhibition, because Gisborne has a historical connection to New Zealand’s first electric vehicle.
Way back in 1909, Gisborne mayor William Douglas Lysnar travelled to the USA to meet Thomas Edison, inventor of the world’s first commercial electric light bulb and a range of ground-breaking electric vehicles. Convinced that electric vehicles were the way of the future, Mr Lysnar brought an electric car back to Gisborne as a present for his wife.

At the official opening of the Electric Village, guests were thoroughly wowed by the exhibits. It’s hoped the village will inspire greater uptake of sustainable transport options by Gisborne’s residents.
“The exhibits look amazing and we’ve had such positive feedback already”, said Alice Pettigrew of the Eastland Group.
Soar was a natural fit for this project, because we have achieved more sustainability accreditations than any other printer in New Zealand.
Read more about large format print.
Talk large format digital printing with Richard Davy on (09) 302 9106.