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
- Register here (Discounted tickets are offered to community groups and students. Please email rosie.condon@araake.co.nz to find out more)
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
7 October - pre event
We are running two sessions the day before the conference starts:
- Energy Sector Explainer: an introductory session on Aotearoa New Zealand’s energy sector on 7 October from 1–4pm. The session will provide an overview of the key players - including local networks, retailers, engineering service providers, policy leaders-and explain how the wholesale and retail markets interact.
- At Home with HPA: The Home Performance Advisor (HPA) training programme invites you to an informal afternoon 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 run a professional development session early afternoon, just for you.
If you're interested in attending either one of the workshops (they'll be running at the same time), please let us know by registering your interest during the registration process, as spaces will be limited. We'll follow up with a confirmation email after you have booked tickets.
These workshops will not be livestreamed.
Day One: Wednesday 8 October
Updated: 9 September 2025
Session One – Setting the theme (9am start)
MC: Victoria Crockford
- Mihi Whakatau
- Engaging communities and community resilience from an Australian perspective
Dr Amanda Cahill, Founder and CEO of The Next Economy - What does regional resilience look like - an Aotearoa perspective
Tammy Tauroa, Co-Chair Ngati Kuri Trust Board - Panel Discussion: What does regional resilience look like?
A discussion from real-world experiences of building resilient energy systems across diverse regions
Speakers: Dr Amanda Cahill |Tammy Tauroa | Russell Shaw
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 - Supa Energy
Luke Blincoe, CEO, Supa Energy - Flexible energy solutions in rural areas
Andrew Pegler, Founder, Blackcurrent - Energy resilience in Northland - challenges and opportunities
Lessons shared from a region facing significant infrastructure and resilience challenges.
Russell Shaw, Chief Executive, TOP Energy - 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
- Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA)- an update on recent developments
Marcos Pelenur, Chief Executive, EECA - Economists view - energy's role in today's households
Cameron Bagrie, Economist - Electricity Authority (EA)
Sarah Gillies, Chief Executive, EA - Panel discussion:
Marcos Pelenur | Cameron Bagrie | Sarah Gillies | Page Crahan, General Manager, Tapestry- GoogleX
Facilitator: Briony Bennett, Senior Energy Innovation Manager, Ara Ake
Afternoon Tea
Session Four – Interactive afternoon
- Three speakers will present, followed with round-table discussion where each table will discuss the theme of the presentation.
- Session is closed with a group wrap-up and reflections from the tables.
- Speaker one: Ratepayer Assistance Scheme. Mike Casey, CEO, Rewiring Aotearoa | Dave Karl, Director of Policy, Research and Data, Rewiring Aotearoa.
- Speaker two: to be announced
- Speaker three: to be announced
Networking drinks and canapés (5pm)
Day Two: Thursday 9 October
Session Five – Government corner
- Healthy Homes Initiative
Bronwyn Petrie, Group Manager, Te Whatu Ora | Dr Nevil Pierse - Department of Public Health, Otago University - Community Energy Network
Members of CEN share practical solutions and models being implemented in both urban and rural contexts - ImpactLab - who we are
Maria Owen, CEO, ImpactLab - Policy Panel
What are the best policy settings to improve energy resilience and affordability for whānau and communities
Maria Owen, CEO, ImpactLab | Gareth Cartwright, Executive Officer, Community Energy Network | Will Edwards, Head of Māori Partnerships, Ara Ake
Facilitator: Vic Crockford
Morning Tea
Session Six – Innovation, Education and Research
- Energy education initiatives
Overview of community- and nationally-led efforts to raise energy literacy and empower households.
Vicki Cowan, Co-manager, Home Performance Advisor programme | Jo Wills, Co-manager, Home Performance Advisor programme
- Research spotlight: HEEP2
Vicki White, Senior Research Analyst, BRANZ - Advice mapping and education strategy
Sally Blackwell, Co-manager and consultant, Beacon Pathway - Addressing Energy Poverty in Aotearoa New Zealand
Jodi Gardner, Brian Coote Chair in Private Law at the University of Auckland | Jessica Wilson, Principal Adviser - Media Content in Communications, Marketing and Engagement at Victoria University
Lunch
Session Seven – Roundtable conversations with experts
This afternoon session involves breaking out into multiple expert-facilitated roundtables.
A selection of tables will host an expert on a specific topic. Participants can join any discussion, with the option to move between tables. Be prepared to move around, change tables and get involved in the discussions!
- Round table one: Community Energy Network - what and who is CEN | Hosted by Gareth Cartwright, Executive Officer, CEN
- Round table two: Community Energy Activator - a chance to deep-dive into this programme | Hosted by Jonathan Young, Head of Industry and Government Engagement, Ara Ake
- Round table three: Multiple Trading Relationships - peer-to-peer trading, energy sharing, community battery schemes and community virtual power plants may soon be possible under New Zealand electricity regulation. MTR specialist Briony Bennett will discuss the evolution of MTR | Hosted by Briony Bennett, Senior Ienergy Innovation Manager, Ara Ake
More to be announced
3pm finish
Get your tickets now!
(Discounted tickets are offered to community groups and students. Please email rosie.condon@araake.co.nz to find out more)
To stay up-to-date with speaker and tickets announcements, sign up to the mailing list below.