Activating Community Energy: 1-Day Navigator Training South Auckland
Your community energy journey starts here!
Nau mai, haere mai, hau mai, afio mai, welkam
Cleaner, fairer, more affordable energy starts with community.
Worried about power bills, and petrol prices?
Want your community to have more say in how energy is made, shared and kept on when it matters most?
Community energy puts power back in local hands, through pathways that include shared solar & wind power, resilience hubs for when the grid goes down, and projects on schools, marae and community spaces.
Join us for a 1-Day Navigator Training, South Auckland to learn more about what it is, how it could look where you live, the Activator process, and most of all how your community can get involved.
No technical experience needed, just a heart for your community.
What is Community Energy?
Simply put, community energy is any clean energy project that is run collaboratively, and whose benefits flow directly back to local people.
This isn't just for neighborhoods—it can also be formed by groups with a shared purpose, like a sports club, church group, or a national co-op. Projects might look like a community battery, an EV bike or car-share, a buyers group, to a micro-grid and power company.
Why attend?
To start the journey of gathering knowledge about the energy sector, how we can participate, and how we can join forces for:
Keeping power and transport prices affordable
Local energy resilience - currently Auckland relies almost only on energy imported or piped in from elsewhere
Making sure renters don't get left out of the clean energy transition; and
Community wealth building - community energy holds important opportunities for local people to lead and collectively-own our power generation, offering employment and prosperity for local people.
Who should come?
Community leaders, residents' associations, community and social service providers, community housing initiatives, local sustainability champions, and anyone who wants a fairer, cleaner and more affordable energy future.
Community Energy Activator & Navigator role
The Community Energy Activator (CEA) is a programme that supports communities across Aotearoa New Zealand to explore, design, and take action on local energy projects.
Navigators play an important role in a CEA. They journey with their group to support, guide and drive, as well as connect the group to ensure they take advantage of the technical expertise available.
This 1-Day Navigator Training is part of our South Auckland Community Energy Activator programme. An awesome opportunity to support local groups ready to explore community energy initiatives they could take on with the guidance of technicians.
Those who go on to be Navigators will inform the design of the Activator series that starts early 2027. This is a paid role to support local community groups keen to understand their options and make plans.
There is no cost to attend the 1-Day Training.
Register now to reserve your place
Proudly brought to you in partnership with Community Energy Network, Vector Ltd, and Auckland Council.
Lineup
Gareth Cartwright, Community Energy Network
As CEN Executive Officer, Gareth works with CEN members and sector partners nationally to eliminate energy hardship and grow the number of community-owned clean energy projects. The CEN has been the backbone nationally supporting Community Energy Activators to happen in Ōtautahi, Taranaki, action in Tairāwhiti, and now Tāmaki Makaurau.
Sam Elder, Climate Navigator
Sam brings her background and expertise in space programmes, mechanical engineering, and the energy sector to the challenge of a just energy transition. She has been instrumental in the CEA delivery in Ōtautahi, Taranaki and the Tairāwhiti action, and is committed to empowering local communities in energy projects across Aotearoa.
Alex Kirkham, Climate Connect Aotearoa
As Energy Innovation Lead, Alex has been project managing the Franklin Energy Sharing protoype in conjunction with Counties Energy. She offers an inside track insight into this groundbreaking project.
Further speakers tba - watch this space
FAQs
- What will come after this event? How do I get involved?
We are running a Community Energy Activator programme in early 2027. We're looking to enlist community groups to participate who are ready to explore potential energy initiatives.
This follows on from Community Energy Activators that have run in Ōtautahi - Christchurch, and Taranaki.
The 1-Day Navigator training day follows on from our recent intro session. From this day, people will be able to step forward who may end up leading or supporting a community group through the Activator programme. They will provide input to shape the design and delivery of the South Activator.
- Does attending the 1-Day Training commit me to being a Navigator?
In short, no. It does not commit you to being a Navigator, but it will make it hard to continue on without having participated in this training day.
This day is intended for a range of people; from Community Leaders and those running organisations seeking to understand the potential of this opportunity, to people who wish to take advantage of the Navigator training and play that role.
- How much does it cost to attend?
It is free to attend.
- I have some questions, who can I talk to?
Press 'contact the host' above to connect with Marisa Pene or Alex Kirkham who can assist you.
- What is a Navigator and who can be one?
The role of a Navigator came about to strengthen the relationship between a community group taking part in the Activator and the technical experts available to the programme.
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