As the Ministry of Economic Development's chronology shows, the process of reform in the New Zealand electricity industry has taken many twists and turns since it started in 1987. The result is a patchwork of competing policies and frameworks. Whether the current structure is effective or sustainable is open to question.

Some media commentators have referred to Tony Baldwin as 'the architect of NZ's electricity reforms'. This is not the case. The broad concepts for change were developed by various task forces. Tony played a significant role in the process between 1991 and 1998, but the overall reforms are an amalgam of many competing influences and interests.