Energy Resilience and Affordability Conference
The Energy Resilience and Affordability Conference, formerly the Reducing Energy Hardship Conference, will be held on 8-9 October 2025, Wellington.
Ara Ake, in partnership with Community Energy Network and WISE Charitable Trust, is pleased to present the third annual Energy Resilience and Affordability Conference - formerly the Reducing Energy Hardship Conference.
- Venue: Harbourside Venue Centre, 4 Taranaki Street, Wellington
- Dates: 8–9 October 2025
- Registration: to open in early July
About the conference
This two-day event brings together around 200 attendees to explore the state of energy hardship in Aotearoa, highlight key innovations, and share insights from iwi, communities, government representatives, and organisations leading change on the ground.
The conference provides a unique platform for thought leaders, practitioners, policy makers, and innovators to connect and collaborate on building a more equitable, affordable, and resilient energy system.
2025 Theme: Regional solutions for equitable energy
New Zealand’s energy future must reflect the diversity of our people, places and priorities. As we face rising climate, infrastructure, and cost-of-living pressures, regional approaches are becoming key to improving energy resilience - our ability to respond to and recover from disruptions - and affordability, particularly in rural and remote communities.
This year’s conference will explore how regional projects, partnerships and innovations can unlock sustainable, community-led energy solutions and promote energy equity across the motu.
What to expect
The 2025 conference will:
- Explore the current roles and relationships between regional and national actors in delivering energy resilience and affordability
- Highlight successful initiatives, including iwi-led and community-driven models
- Recommend pathways for policy, investment, and coordination to support leadership and scale local impact
Programme
Speakers to be announced soon
Day One
Session One– Setting the theme (9am start)
- Mihi Whakatau
- Keynote Presentations: Engaging communities and community resilience
Local and international perspectives - Panel Discussion: What does regional resilience look like?
A discussion from real-world experiences of building resilient energy systems across diverse regions
Morning Tea
Session Two – Innovation and regional approaches to energy affordability
- Community Energy Activator, the Christchurch experience - insights and learnings
Exploring the pilot programme designed to support community-led energy projects. - Flexible energy solutions in rural areas
- Panel discussion with the Community Energy Network
Members of CEN share practical solutions and models being implemented in both urban and rural contexts.
Lunch
Session Three – Energy sector collaboration
- EECA update
- Session TBC
- Energy resilience in Northland - challenges and opportunities
Lessons shared from a region facing significant infrastructure and resilience challenges. - PANEL: Energy affordability hub - working collaboratively
Afternoon Tea
Session Four – Interactive afternoon: What limits or supports energy resilience in your region?
- Three key themes are presented, with speakers followed with round-table discussion.
- Session is closed with a group wrap-up and reflections from each discussion theme.
Networking drinks and canapés (5pm)
Day Two
Session One – Government corner
- Healthy Homes Initiative
- Economists view of energy's role in today's households
- Policy Panel
What are the best policy settings to improve energy resilience and affordability for whānau and communities
Morning Tea
Session Two – Innovation, Education and Research
- Energy education initiatives
Overview of community- and nationally-led efforts to raise energy literacy and empower households. - Research spotlight
- Strategy: Advice and Education Pathways
- Research sector collaboration in practice
Lunch
Session Three – Roundtable conversations with experts
Breakout into multiple expert-facilitated roundtables. Each table will host an expert on a specific topic (policy, community action, innovation, research, etc.).Participants can join any discussion, with the option to rotate every 20 minutes.
3pm finish
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