There's a new sparky in town. Well, not entirely new. Laura Peterson has been working as an electrician for eight years, but she's recently backed herself to go out on her own.
The Waimate mum, former butcher and qualified electrician, launched Wire and Watt Electrical in January. You might have noticed her vibrant work truck around town.
When it comes to working on people's homes, Laura has one overriding priority - keeping people safe.
We caught up with Laura to find out how a girl originally from Perth ended up running an electrical business in Waimate, and why being a woman in a traditionally male-dominated trade doesn't faze her.
From butcher to electrician
Laura grew up in Perth before her parents moved to Waimate in 2003 in time for high school. They chose the district for its lifestyle and the opportunity to raise Laura and her brother Sam in a smaller community.
After leaving school, Laura trained as a butcher at Waimate New World, completing her apprenticeship under her mother, who was also a qualified butcher.
She later spent time living in Australia before returning to Waimate, where she spotted an advertisement for an electrical apprentice at Plunkett Electrical and decided to give it a go.
Laura credits her dad, Les, with helping her get through her electrical apprenticeship, saying she wouldn't have been able to finish it without his support.
It’s a great career for anyone
Women remain a small minority in the electrical industry. In 2022, the Electrical Workers Registration Board reported that just four per cent of electrical workers were female.
However, more women are entering construction trades. According to BCITO, women accounted for six per cent of its new apprentices in 2025, up from less than one percent five years earlier.
Laura says being a woman in the electrical trade has rarely been an issue.
She recalls one occasion when someone looked her up and down and remarked, "You're a girl."
"Yes, I am," she replied.
Her view is that being good at the job is what matters.
"If you're switched on and willing to learn, it's a great career for anyone."
It's a trade that demands both mental and physical skills - from problem-solving and attention to detail to drilling, digging and crawling through confined spaces.
Time to have a go
After starting a family, Laura and her husband Alex found juggling full-time work, travelling to Ōamaru and Timaru for their jobs and responsibilities at home a bit overwhelming.
They decided that Laura establishing her own business offered greater flexibility for their family, and decided to "have a go".
Laura launched Wire and Watt Electrical in January, becoming a sole operator servicing Waimate, Timaru and Ōamaru.
Now she's growing the business, with a focus on domestic work in particular pre-purchase inspections. She also enjoys the challenge of rewiring older homes, where every job presents different problems to solve.
Keeping people and property safe
Describing herself as detail-oriented, Laura says she's sometimes been shocked by the standard of electrical work she's encountered in houses.
She has high standards because electrical safety is extremely important to her. Her priority is ensuring people are safe in their homes.
"What I'd want in my house, I'd do in other people's."
She's particularly passionate about pre-purchase electrical inspections, something she believes more homebuyers should consider.
Buying a property is a huge investment, yet Laura says many people commit to purchasing without having the electrical systems checked.
An inspection can identify potential safety concerns and costly repairs before a sale is finalised, giving buyers an opportunity to negotiate repairs or factor the costs into their offer.
That's what it's about at the end of the day, keeping people in houses safe.
Laura has developed an easy-to-follow traffic-light reporting system to help buyers understand the findings.
For her, it's about giving people the information they need to make an informed decision - and helping ensure the homes they're buying are safe.
Work life balance
Ten months into running her own business, Laura is steadily building her client base and enjoying the flexibility that comes with being her own boss.
With two young children, finding a better balance between work and family life has made the decision worthwhile.
And Waimate is exactly where she wants to be.
"It's such a great place to bring up kids," she says.
She appreciates the lifestyle, the sense of safety and the shops along the main street.
Having grown up in Perth and spent time living away, she says there's something special about returning to Waimate.
"It's always nice to come back."
