Energy Resilience and Affordability Conference 2026
The Energy Resilience and Affordability Conference will return to Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington.
Ara Ake, Community Energy Network and WISE are pleased to announce the Energy Resilience and Affordability Conference 2026. Now in its fourth year, the conference has built a substantial body of knowledge about energy hardship in Aotearoa New Zealand - what it looks like, why it persists, and what works at the community level.
This year's theme, From energy consumers to energy communities, looks beyond the problem to explore the vision: local, participatory approaches to energy resilience and affordability, enabled by the right infrastructure, regulation, and community assets.
The conference will be 2 days long, with an extra half day (4 September) of workshops for those that are available to stay on.
Details:
- 2-3 September - main conference
- 4 September - extra workshops (see below)
- Pipitea Marae, 55-59 Thorndon Quay, Wellington
Programme
Day one
9am: Session one: Setting the scene
- The conference opens with keynote addresses that frame this year’s theme from multiple perspectives.
MORNING TEA
Session two: From the Ground Up - Community case studies
- The most important evidence base this conference has - this session showcases community-led models that have demonstrated real impact. The goal is not inspiration alone but replication: what does it take to scale?
LUNCH
Session three: Governance, funding and capital for community energy
- This session follows the morning’s case studies with a direct question: what capital and governance structures are needed to scale community energy solutions?
AFTERNOON BREAK
Session four: Energy in Action - Working on the ground
- A broader set of case studies showing distributed and community energy working across different contexts - local government, community organisations, technology platforms, and national programmes.
5pm: Finish for day
Programme: Day two
9am: Session five: Transitioning the energy system - What does the vision require?
- The Day Two opener shifts from individual stories to systemic conditions. An economic framing opens the day, situating energy hardship within the cost-of-living crisis
MORNING TEA
Session six: Community energy - How this work is landing
- What are we learning from community groups who have already started their energy community journeys? Who is still not well represented in this work and how can we build our collective impact so everyone is able to afford the energy they need to live well?
LUNCH
Session seven
3.30pm: Finish for the day
Workshops on Friday 4th September, 9am-12pm (optional)
Community Energy Activators and Navigators
The Community Energy Activator is a free programme based on the Ara Ake Community Energy How-To-Guide, which guides individuals and groups through the process of establishing community energy projects. The programme brings numerous benefits to communities by democratising energy knowledge, making it accessible to everyone, and empowering communities to take control of their energy future, even with little prior knowledge.
This session will cover what is needed to run an Activator programme in your region.
Home Performance Advisor workshop
The Home Performance Advisor (HPA) training programme invites you to an informal session where you'll learn more about the people and organisations behind the Kaupapa to 'raise the standard of advice' New Zealanders receive, to improve the performance, health and efficiency of their homes.
If you are already HPA trained, we'll combine this workshop with a professional development session.
Tickets
Get your tickets here!
Read about past conferences
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