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Community-led group Electrify Waiheke has set its sights on becoming the country’s first all-electric island by upgrading thousands of fossil fuel machines in homes, businesses, farms and public facilities to electric equivalents.
This community-driven collective is taking significant steps to transform Waiheke Island into a self-sufficient community powered entirely by renewable electricity. Its work aims to make Waiheke a leading example of how communities can respond to climate change and save residents money on their energy bills.
Given residents are reliant on a cable from the mainland, they are motivated to achieve greater energy independence through more rooftop solar and batteries in order to increase resilience in the case of power outages and price fluctuations.
After a community event where Mike Casey, Rewiring Aotearoa CEO and co-owner of all-electric Forest Lodge Orchard, spoke in late 2024, the group mobilised quickly, supported by the Waiheke Resources Trust and Carbon Neutral Waiheke.
Like other electric communities that have formed all across the motu, Electrify Waiheke is focused on accelerating the transition to more efficient electric machines that run on clean electricity, but with a unique island focus. Its goal for 2025 is to transition 150 residential houses, 10 businesses, five public facilities and 100 vehicles from being powered by fossil fuels, to being fully powered by renewable energy, through a combination of self-generation and full renewable grid-supply energy.
To achieve this ambitious goal, Electrify Waiheke has formed a number of working groups focusing on four key pillars:
A key focus is on removing barriers to solar uptake and fostering local expertise. Electrify Waiheke is also prioritising initiatives to connect suppliers with keen residents, making it viable to get the panels and installers over to the island on the ferry. Projects are underway to explore innovative solutions such as solar in vineyards for dual-purpose energy generation, make solar adoption more affordable for residents, and to research the potential of micro-grids to create local renewable power networks.
Kristin Busher, group lead and Partnerships Manager for Waiheke Resources Trust, says: "We’re proud to support Electrify Waiheke in this community-driven effort. Our core mission is to build capacity and knowledge in the community toward the creation of a resource-full future for all, and this initiative is a vital step towards achieving that vision for Waiheke.”
Over the coming year, the group will showcase case studies of existing solar installations and electric homes, and also negotiate a bulk discounted purchase of panels to make adoption more accessible. Community engagement is a high priority, aligned with the kaupapa of Waiheke Resources Trust, with plans to create simple solar adoption guides and provide education on finance options.
Local energy expert and group member, Lindsay Jeffs, emphasises the importance of building a resilient energy future for the island.
"Having solar on my own house, I can see the benefits for Waiheke that are waiting to be unlocked. It has the potential to lead the way in community-driven energy and sustainability," Jeffs says. "Solar offers incredible opportunities for residents here – from increasing energy independence to slashing power bills for residents and, for those with EVs, slashing emissions."
Rewiring Aotearoa CEO Mike Casey is enthusiastic about the work of Electrify Waiheke, and the role of community groups more broadly to put pressure on decision makers for the policy changes that are needed.
“Demonstration projects like our orchard or an island like Waiheke are essential to show people what’s possible and that this is not a cost to bear, but an opportunity to reduce bills and emissions. Electrify Waiheke has started with a hiss and a roar and, with all the committed residents putting their hand up to help, I don’t think it will be long before the island becomes a poster child for electrification and energy independence."
How the sun led to higher salaries for teachers in the US and why this should be happening here, too; how "the once-rigid link between economic growth and carbon emissions is breaking across the vast majority of the world" as electrification gives more countries a productivity boost (and how that would allow New Zealand to keep embracing our long, languid summer break); solar continues to weather storms and provide 'free resilience'; Dunedin laundry company Preens goes electric and saves over 300 utes worth of emissions; the company that wants you to drink diesel exhaust; and a wonderful rundown of the Kill Bills tour - and the national electrification opportunity - from one of the tour sponsors.
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