Ara Ake, in partnership with Community Energy Network and WISE Charitable Trust, is pleased to present the third annual Energy Resilience and Affordability Conference — formerly the Reducing Energy Hardship Conference.

About the conference

This two-day event brings together around 200 attendees to explore the state of energy hardship in Aotearoa, highlight key innovations, and share insights from iwi, communities, and organisations leading change on the ground.

The conference provides a unique platform for thought leaders, practitioners, policy makers, and innovators to connect and collaborate on building a more equitable, affordable, and resilient energy system.

2025 Theme: Regional solutions for equitable energy

New Zealand’s energy future must reflect the diversity of our people, places, and priorities. As we face rising climate, infrastructure, and cost-of-living pressures, regional approaches are becoming key to improving energy resilience—our ability to respond to and recover from disruptions—and affordability, particularly in rural and remote communities.

This year’s conference will explore how regional projects, partnerships and innovations can unlock sustainable, community-led energy solutions and promote energy equity across the motu.

What to expect

The 2025 conference will:

Explore the current roles and relationships between regional and national actors in delivering energy resilience and affordability
Highlight successful initiatives, including iwi-led and community-driven models
Recommend pathways for policy, investment, and coordination to support leadership and scale local impact