Ara Ake - Future Energy Development

In 2024, Ara Ake has embraced the idea of fostering energy innovation through whakawhanaungatanga – bringing people with varied perspectives together in the right place and at the right time, says Dr Will Edwards, Head of Māori Partnerships.

Based in New Plymouth, Ara Ake is New Zealand’s future energy centre. The organisation focuses on accelerating the demonstration, commercialisation and deployment of energy innovation to support New Zealand’s transition to a more sustainable future.

One way to do that is through connecting the energy eco-system.

In May, the organisation co-hosted the Reducing Energy Hardship Conference: Building Equity into our communities, held on Wellington’s waterfront.

This event, in collaboration with Community Energy Network and WISE Charitable Trust, chose the capital city as its venue to make it easier to connect with decision makers.

“That was really satisfying because… the cost-of-living crisis is really hitting hard for a lot of people, disproportionately the Māori community,” says Will, of Taranaki, Ngāruahine, Tangahoe, Pakakohi, and Ngāti Ruanui ancestry.

“As the Head of Māori Partnerships, I have a particular focus on the Māori community, and there is a massive amount of work required to address inequities and build resilience amongst communities.”

For Will, a highlight was keynote speaker Deborah Hart, Consumer Advocacy Council Chair. “She talked about having access to affordable energy as a right, that people shouldn’t have to make choices between food and being warm,” he says.

Backed by data, Deborah’s presentation challenged energy company policies on pricing. “Which played out really interestingly over the subsequent months, for example with how we’ve experienced energy price spiking, which Deborah spoke about,” says Will.

While lower socioeconomic households struggle to pay their energy bills, Will remains hopeful.

“The Government is starting to ramp up their social investment approach, which I understand is a bit more holistic,” says Will. “Which is multi-agency across collectives of people and (there are) talks about early intervention in people’s lives.”

Explaining why Ara Ake supports such initiatives, he says: “One of the organisations priority areas is community energy resilience, which addresses the energy trilemma: sustainability, security, and equity. Energy equity, ensuring accessible and affordable energy for all, remains a challenge in New Zealand.”

Even though the word “networking” is overused, Will believes in the power of connection. “An important element is just getting the right people in the same room together,” he says.

“I understand the carbon benefits of online events, but those chance conversations during coffee breaks, or popping outside to get a breath of fresh air, are so valuable and shouldn’t be underestimated.”

Another event in 2024 that brought people together was the Offshore Renewable Energy Forum, held in March in Hāwera, the rohe of Ngāti Ruanui Iwi.

The hui was unique in that it had representatives ranging from multinational wind energy developers, policymakers, iwi, researchers, to local environmental group Climate Justice Taranaki speaking.

Ara Ake provides a safe space for exchanging ideas and “promoting those sort of conversations” without forcing agreement. Feedback from attendees emphasised the value of hearing what Climate Justice Taranaki had to say.

For Will, a highlight of the forum was meeting representatives of a Japanese offshore wind developer. That company, over 400 years old, told Will how they connected with iwi over a shared sense of history.

“They saw huge value in talking to partners that have been around for several hundred years already in the Taranaki community and plan to be here for several hundred more.”

Another valuable initiative launched this year was the Community Energy Activator pilot programme in Christchurch, alongside Orion and Community Energy Network. “The Activator programme is helping several community projects to develop project plans and business models for their own community energy models.”

Plans are under way to bring this to Taranaki, where marae-based solar arrays could provide immediate benefits for Māori communities.

Will highlights a first-of-its kind collaboration between Ara Ake and Kāinga Ora, which trialled aggregating solar power from more than 630 homes, with revenues reinvested to reduce energy hardship for tenants. “What it does is put power – as in relationship power – into the hands of the household, rather than the electricity companies or retailers,” he says.

Locally, Ara Ake has a monthly Taranaki Energy Update, run by Jonathan Young, Industry and Government Relationships Lead. “These updates, averaging 70 to 80 people in attendance, are a great way to foster dialogue and connect stakeholders,” says Will.

As Ara Ake continues its work, 2024 has demonstrated the power of connection in fostering energy innovation and addressing critical challenges like energy equity. By bringing together diverse voices and perspectives, Ara Ake shows how whakawhanaungatanga can drive meaningful change.

‘Tuia i runga, tuia i raro, tuia i roto, tuia i waho. Tuia te here tangata – bringing together diverse perspectives is a powerful way to unify people.’

Contact:info@araakae.co.nz