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“The real hope is in the collective; that many people are working towards this.”
In a Newsroom piece on how to fight against 'eco-paralysis', Dr Niki Harré says people are more likely to take part in something when they believe “we are in this together”. Individual actions are also about "more than material impact; they help to build a collective culture where broader change becomes possible". And that's what is happening with the grassroots electrification movement.
Electrify the Hutt, an expo that was organised by a committed bunch of locals and was inspired by the Electrify Wairarapa event last year, attracted almost 1300 people to the Lower Hutt Town Hall. Attendees were there to hear from experts, see the latest electric tech (including a massive loader), get their questions answered, and even eat a few pikelets cooked by an EV.
It was the largest and most ambitious community electrification event we’ve seen so far and it has definitely set a blueprint for other community groups to follow.
The exit survey saw a huge shift in people moving from 'not sure' about home electrification to feeling more confident after attending the event and, as Rewiring Aotearoa's Mike Casey and Jay Salzke say, it was an honour to be able to provide support to make it happen.
High fuel prices are hurting different demographics in different ways. We've seen stories of low-income households having to choose between food and transport; businesses reliant on diesel that are on the brink as margins shrink; and now, those in rural districts spending "as much as five times more of their household budgets on fuel than city dwellers".
Paul Spain heads to Central Otago to meet Mike Casey at Electric Cherries, exploring what happens when tech thinking meets hands‑on farming. Mike shares his journey from scaling tech startups in Sydney to creating New Zealand’s first fully electric cherry orchard, powered by onsite solar to reduce energy costs and build long‑term resilience. The conversation dives into the real economics of electrification, smart infrastructure choices, and how practical technology decisions can unlock productivity, sustainability, and future growth for New Zealand businesses.
Read moreDownloadThe OECD has just released its 2026 report on New Zealand's economy. And when it comes to energy, it basically gave us a 'must try harder' grade. On the proposed LNG terminal - which, remarkably, is still not dead yet despite all evidence suggesting it should be - the OECD said, as we have said, that it would not serve its intended function of lowering prices.
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