Offshore Renewable Energy Forum

In collaboration with New Zealand Wind Energy Association, Te Puna Umanga Venture Taranaki and the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce, we hosted the 2025 Offshore Renewable Energy Forum on 1-2 April 2025 at the Devon Hotel, New Plymouth.

The forum was a dedicated platform for industry leaders, policymakers, researchers, and stakeholders to collaborate, share insights, and drive the future of offshore renewable energy in Aotearoa.

Thank you to our sponsors

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Programme and presentations

Tuesday, 1 April: 5:00pm – 9:00pm

• Dinner with keynote speaker: Bill Day, Chairman of Seaworks

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Wednesday, 2 April: 8:30am – 5:00pm

Session 1

• Welcome
• Ministerial address: Hon Simon Watts, Minister of Energy
• ‍‍Global trends in  offshore renewable energy: Gunnar Herzig, Managing Director, World  Forum Offshore Wind (via Video link)
• ‍How the UK succeeded in  establishing Offshore Wind: Hannah  Fallon, Senior Project Manager, ORE Catapult, Q&A.
• ‍Ports, Shipping and Logistics: Andrew  Yardley, Senior Analyst - ORE Catapult, Q&A

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Morning tea

Session 2 – New Zealand focus

• ‍Panel: an exploration of current topics relevant to mana whenua: Dr Will Edwards, Head of Māori Partnerships,  Ara Ake - Facilitator
• Environmental Efficiency of Offshore Wind: Dr Isabella Pincelli, Sustainability Practitioner, thinkstep-anz

Lunch

Session 3 – Commercialisation tools

• Introduction  to Commercial Tools session: Jonathan Young, Head of Industry and Government  Engagement, Ara Ake
• The ARUP Report - An analysis of financial tools and their effects  in the NZ energy market and economy: Ben Vaughan, Energy Lead  - New Zealand, ARUP
• Current work on the PPA Template: Tina Schirr, Executive Director, BusinessNZ Energy Council (BEC)‍
• Comment on the UK experience: Andrew  Yardley, Senior Analyst - ORE Catapult, Q&A

• Q&A   

Session 4 - Panel discussion: Steps to establish a new energy  sector

Learnings from the UK delegation and steps to establish a new energy sector: Kelvin Wright, CE of Venture Taranaki - Facilitator

Panelists: 

- Hannah Fallon, Senior Project Manager, ORE Catapult

- Rick Zwann, Lead Climate Change Advisor, British High  Commission

- Michael Tucker, Manager Infrastructure and Growth, Ministry for the Environment

- Hayden Mackenzie,  Investment Manager, NZTE

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Afternoon tea

Session 5 – Policy, government and industry updates

Government Updates

• ‍MBIE Legislation update – Melanee Beatson, Manager for  Offshore renewables and hydrogen, MBIE
• NZTE - Building electricity demand - Hayden McKenzie, Investment Manager, NZTE
• NIWA - Protecting the marine ecosystem - Joshu Mountjoy,  Strategy Manager –  Oceans, NIWA

Industry Updates ‍

• Aotearoa Wave & Tidal Energy Association (AWATEA)- Dr Alona Ben-Tal,  AWATEA Chair
• Taranaki Offshore Partnership - Giacomo Caleffi, Business Development Director, Taranaki Offshore Partnership – by NZ Super Fund & Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners
• Elemental Group - Nick  Jackson, Chief Executive Officer & Director, Elemental Group  
• Parkwind - Peter Spencer,  Country Manager New Zealand, Parkwind
• Port Taranaki - Ross Dingle, General Manager Commercial, Port Taranaki
• Wind Quarry - Dr. Patrick D. O’Meara, Chief Executive Officer, Wind Quarry Zealandia Ltd

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