Grahame Douglas Christian, Smart Environmental, Renew Energy Ltd
Renew Energy Limited Director
Grahame Douglas Christian was appointed director of Renew Energy on February 28, 2024. On 26 August 2024, just six months later Christian was removed as a director of Renew Energy.
Smart Environmental
Grahame Christian established waste management firm Smart Environmental in 1993 and was Managing Director until 2019, when he stood down. He formed the company from zero staff to, on his departure, a nationwide business with over 500 staff and the largest privately owned company in the industry.
Grahame sold the majority interest in the business to Maui Private Equity and remains an active shareholder and director.
He has had numerous roles on boards and committees over the years.
Current governance roles include:
- Director and Shareholder: Smart Environmental Limited
- Managing Director, Smart Contracting Group Limited
- Member: Thames Coromandel Economic Development Committee
- Board Member: WasteMINZ
Former roles include:
- Founder: Streetsmart Limited
- Director: Touch New Zealand
- Chairman: Pare Hauraki Asset Holdings Limited
- Chairman: Preserve New Chum Inc
- Chairman, Hauraki Fishing Group
- Director, Taimoana Marine Farms
Smart Environmental has been in the waste industry for over 25 years. The company initially operated as Streetsmart Ltd, then rebranded to Smart Environmental Ltd (Smart); the company was 100% owned by Grahame Christian for most of these years.
The company has relationships with 18 councils across 25 contracts and approximately 400 staff plus owner-drivers. Smart Environmental holds contracts with approximately 30% of New Zealand’s territorial authorities.
Maui Capital Aqua Fund
In July 2017, Maui Capital invested in Smart alongside Smart Senior Management through its Maui Capital Aqua Fund.
Maui and Smart’s shared vision is the creation of a uniquely Kiwi industry player of scale in the waste sector.
Blue Planet Mantis Limited and Blue Planet Special Waste Solutions Pte. Ltd. purchase Smart Environmental Group.
On 15 October 2024 The Overseas Investment Office granted consent for the sale of Smart Environmental Group Limited to Blue Planet Mantis Limited (BPML). BPML is ultimately 95% owned by Blue Planet Special Waste Solutions Pte. Ltd. Blue Planet Special Waste Solutions Pte. Ltd is a subsidiary of Blue Planet Environmental Solutions Pte. Ltd. a Singaporean company whose primary business activities are the treatment and disposal of waste (including remediation activities).
Blue Planet Special Waste Solutions Pte. Ltd also received consent to subsequently increase its interest in Blue Planet Special Waste Solutions (NZ) Limited from 95% to 100%.
Who are BPML?
Like Smart Environmental Group, Blue Planet Mantis Limited and Blue Planet Special Waste Solutions Pte. Ltd. are involved in recycling. They are headquartered in Singapore and made up as follows:
India 35%
Singapore 27%
North America Region 15%
Malaysia 11%
Japan 5%
Various 7%