Our mission

To make New Zealand more electric / Whakahiko te ao.

By combining research, communication and demonstration, Rewiring Aotearoa’s work accelerates the country’s equitable transition to a low cost electrified economy.

Find out more about the problem we're facing, how we intend to solve it and what we've already achieved here.

Our people

Rewiring Aotearoa is a group of New Zealand leaders who work within the climate, energy, policy, data and storytelling space. We believe the cross section of these skills will help us rapidly electrify Aotearoa New Zealand. Want to join? See available roles here.

Our funders

Rewiring Aotearoa is an independent, non-partisan, non-profit. It is a registered charity primarily funded by a group of New Zealand-based philanthropists, with a small chunk of funding generated through projects and donations from supporters.

"Home electrification is not only excellent for the environment, but it is now a financial no-brainer for households. Rewiring Aotearoa is performing a pivotal role in distilling and promoting this message to Kiwis"
Lachlan Nixon
Motion Capital
"While energy independence will require action on many fronts, Rewiring Aotearoa is helping deliver one of the most important foundations - clean, local electricity generated here at home."
Brian Cartmell
"Rewiring Aotearoa has developed a sound, straightforward roadmap to transition our per-capita energy usage from high-cost/high-emissions fossil fuels to low-cost renewables powering the next several generations of innovative devices. Not only will this save money in both the short and the longer term, but it will give us the ability to create our own luck as we compete for industry on the global stage."
Michael Tiemann
"If we hope to solve climate change, we need to eliminate the burning of fossil fuels and use our clean green electricity to the maximum."
Sir Stephen Tindall
"New Zealand can lead the world on electrification and create a model for other countries to follow."
Urs Hölzle
"The electrification of our future is already underway – and our belief is that it offers all of us as Kiwis a more prosperous and healthy future."
Carl Vink
Whakatupu Aotearoa Foundation
"I chose to support Rewiring Aotearoa because it's a highly strategic intervention in our energy system in New Zealand. It is championing the customer/average Kiwi in a way that no one else is."
Oliver Bruce
"The opportunity being presented by this initiative is of long term benefit for all New Zealanders."
Michael Sidey
"New Zealand has a massive opportunity, a headstart with its hydro, low solar prices and high fossil fuel prices. New Zealand could be setting an example for the world on how to solve climate while boosting its economy. "
Saul Griffith
Author of 'Electrify'
"Electrification represents a critical opportunity for Aotearoa, particularly for our farmers, who will be able to build resilience, grow their competitive advantage, cut costs and generate new income."
Geoff and Finn Ross
Lake Hawea Station
"This is an important and timely report that deserves considerable attention."
Shaun Hendy (MNZM FRSNZ)
Peer review of Electric Homes report
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Our Team

CEO
Mike Casey
Mike is a successful entrepreneur. Since selling his startup in 2019 he has built New Zealand's first zero fossil fuel electric cherry farm. Mike's passion for showing people how we can farm without emissions and save money on operating costs has inspired many, and he aims to continue that progress by leading Rewiring Aotearoa's mission to create a fair and fruitful pathway for all kiwi's to zero emissions.
General Manager
Bryony Lane
Research & Development Lead
Josh Ellison
Josh leads research, design and development work at Rewiring Aotearoa and Rewiring Australia. He has multi-disciplinary experience and has co-authored Rewiring Australia’s research papers and models since its establishment. With New Zealand roots he now lives in Queenstown and is the bridge between Rewiring Australia and Rewiring Aotearoa.
Community Engagement
Mike Rewi
Mike (Kai Tahu / Kāti Māmoe / Ngāti Kahungungu) is the CEO of Mana Tāhuna Charitable Trust, a kaupapa Māori organisation committed to positive social, cultural and environmental development for our community. He leads community engagement strategy with a focus on delivering lower cost of living and more energy resilience to communities in need.
Director Policy, Research & Data
Dave Karl
Policy and Government Relations
Ngaio Neumegen
Climate Scientist
Dominic Thorn
Dom is a climate scientist who has worked across academia, government and consulting. He has a Master of Climate Science from the University of Melbourne and began his career at the Ministry for the Environment before working as a consultant with PwC. Dom has represented New Zealand on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, and has helped a number of organisations understand their climate risks and how to build resilience to climate change.
Strategic Communications
Ben Fahy
Ben Fahy has over 20 years experience as a journalist, editor and publisher and has a particular interest in business and technology - and how they intersect with environmental issues. He is now based in Wānaka and focuses on strategic communications and freelance writing.He was previously editorial director of the current affairs portfolio at Bauer Media, which included New Zealand Listener, North & South, Metro, OurAuckland and Noted.co.nz. Prior to that he was publisher/editorial director of the Tangible Media Business Network, which focused on the start-up, marketing/media/advertising and retail sectors.
Project Lead & Data Generalist
Jenny Sahng
Data Analyst
Nicole Kirkham
Ecosystem Lead
Jay Salzke
Executive Assistant
Keryn Oliver
Community Energy Lead
Jade Baker-Edwards
Business Electrification Advisor
Lowri Swygart
Kaiwhakatere Hapori / Community Activator
Matt Newman
EV Sector Engagement Lead
Dawn Baggaley

Our Board

Juliet Tainui-Hernandez
Juliet is a professional director and lawyer with over 25 years’ experience across financial services, multi-jurisdictional law, central banking, and iwi economic development. She has held senior executive and governance roles with the Reserve Bank of New Zealand, ASB Bank, Norton Rose Fulbright, Ngāi Tahu Holdings, Whai Rawa Fund Limited, and other entities in Aotearoa and internationally. Her focus has spanned legal, advisory, risk and regulation, strategic transformation, responsible investment, and sustainable, long-term value creation. “Electrification is a critical part of Aotearoa’s systems transformation — enabling a cleaner, fairer, and more sustainable energy future for generations to come. I’m proud to support Rewiring Aotearoa’s kaupapa to build resilience and ensure our energy system reflects the interconnectedness of whenua, whānau, and the wellbeing of all communities.
Rob Hewett
Chair
Rob is an experienced company director who currently chairs Silver Fern Farms, Farmlands, Fern Energy, Hilton Haulage, Pioneer Energy and Woolworks. He also sits on the boards of T&G Global. “As a farmer, I’ve been impressed with the work Rewiring Aotearoa is doing to showcase the benefits of electrification in the rural sector. There’s great potential for farmers to reduce their costs and emissions and also play an important role in New Zealand’s energy system.”
Nikki Bloomfield
Nikki is an experienced Wellington lawyer who has a deep understanding of New Zealand’s electricity market. She has worked in legal and human resource roles for Meridian, Powershop and Flux Federation and was General Counsel for Flick. More recently she has been engaged in risk and sustainability roles within the energy sector. “New Zealand needs more electricity and advances in technology mean customers with solar and batteries need to be seen as a critical part of our infrastructure. The market was not set up for that, so I’m happy to support Rewiring Aotearoa’s work to create a fairer market and a more resilient energy system.”
Chris Wilson
Chris has more than 15 years of experience in financial markets and is the co-CEO of Harbour Asset Management, which is in the FirstCape group of companies. It manages more than $15bn of assets on behalf of investors. He is a CFA Charterholder and holds a Masters of Applied Finance (Distinction), BA Economics (Hons) and a BCom in Finance. “Rewiring Aotearoa is in a position to identify and set the narrative in respect to New Zealand’s energy transition. Supporting this initiative is a way for me to help ensure this is done in the most effective way for the benefit of all New Zealanders.”

Our Advisors

Paul Fuge
Consumer Powerswitch Manager and energy commentator
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Dr. Saul Griffith
Chief Scientist
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Dr. Steve Batstone
NZ Energy System Expert
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About Rewiring Aotearoa

Rewiring Aotearoa is an independent non-partisan non-profit. It is a registered charity working on energy, climate, and electrification research, advocacy, and supporting communities through the energy transition. The team consists of New Zealand energy, policy, and community outreach experts who have demonstrated experience both locally and internationally.

We're in it for you. We’re always fighting for the New Zealanders who use the energy system. Our work gives households and businesses the information and inspiration they need to make decisions that will reduce their costs and their carbon emissions.

Our Purpose

By combining research, communication and demonstration, Rewiring Aotearoa will accelerate climate action and transform the energy system to benefit all New Zealanders.

Our Team

Rewiring Aotearoa is a group of New Zealand leaders who work within the climate, energy, policy, data and storytelling space. We believe the cross section of these skills will help us rapidly electrify Aotearoa New Zealand. See available roles here.

Our Funding

Rewiring Aotearoa’s New Zealand-based team is primarily funded by a group of New Zealand-based philanthropists, with a small chunk of funding generated through projects and donations from supporters.

How we are Funded

Rewiring Aotearoa’s New Zealand-based team is primarily funded by a group of New Zealand-based philanthropists, with a small chunk of funding generated through commercial projects and donations from supporters.

Initial funding for an energy hardship project came from Queenstown Lakes District Council, while Oliver Bruce and Australian scientist Dr Saul Griffith (and author of the book “Electrify”) provided seed funding to help get Rewiring Aotearoa off the ground.

Mike Casey came on board as CEO and has helped to secure a significant amount of funding from a range of New Zealand-based philanthropists and trusts including Sir Stephen Tindall, Whakatupu Aotearoa Foundation, Michael Sidey, Urs Hölzle and the Biome Trust.

Rewiring Aotearoa exists to enable community electrification, help New Zealanders save money on energy bills, and independently fight for communities to be treated fairly in the energy system.

We are a non-profit, and our work depends on donations big and small.

Donate

Support us

Your donations help our team keep the momentum of rapidly electrifying Aotearoa New Zealand within our key focus areas of community, government and industry.

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