sunday, 17 May
Community & Systems Change
Advance Registration required for all Sessions and Experiences
Session
type
Session
SPEAKER(S)
Time
Description
PRICE
Electric Experiences:
The Resilient Home Tour
Hosted by Local Homeowner
09:00 - 10:30
Visit real, innovative homes using solar, batteries, and smart energy systems.
Free | Waitlisted
Inside a High-Performance Solar Home
Hosted by Local Homeowner
11:00 - 12:00
Join us for a guided tour of a home designed for energy performance
Free | Waitlisted
Off-Grid & On-Purpose: The Kinloch Wilderness Experience
Hosted by Kinloch Wilderness Retreat
10:00 - 15:00
Travel by EV’s to Kinloch to experience fully regenerative hospitality
$100
Peaceful Fishing - Electric Boat Trip
Hosted by Catch a Fish
10:00-14:30
Experience Lake Wakatipu in a quieter, more low-impact way
$20
Boat & Bike Experience
12:00 - 14:30
Experience Queenstown by e-boat and e-bike in a scenic, low-emission adventure.
$90
Exhibition & Display:
Queenstown Events Centre
The How-To Hub
Key exhibitor zones: Solar & Batteries, Electric Vehicles, Heating & Hot Water, & Finance
13:00 - 15:00
Drop in and get expert advice to electrify your home, business or project.
Free
The Power Playground
Innovative electric technologies to test out
13:00-15:00
Test EVs, e-bikes, and electrified tech with hands-on demos and expert tips.
Free
Afternoon Keynote Speakers:
Queenstown Events Centre
Day 1 Ticket: $5
Welcome
Victoria Crockford, Director of Heft
15:10 - 15:15
Introduction to day 1 from the facilitator; Victoria Crockford
Included
Address from the Climate Change Minister & Former Energy Minister
Hon. Simon Watts
15:15 - 15:30
Hear from the Minister of Energy, Climate Change, Local Government and Revenue
Included
What Will It Take? A Consumer‑Led Path to Electrification
Paul Fuge, Powerswitch Manager, Consumer New Zealand
15:30 - 15:45
What consumers think about electrification and what will drive uptake
Included
Turning Ambition into Action: Electrification in Queenstown
Josh Ellison, Queenstown Electrification Accelerator Programme
15:45 - 16:15
How everyone can play a part in lowering bills & emissions
Included
Leading the Charge: Aotearoa’s Electric and Sustainable Future
Izzy Fenwick, CE New Zealand Climate Foundation
16:15 - 16:40
Discover how Aotearoa can lead global climate action through electrification
Included
Q&A with Speakers
Queenstown Electrification Accelerator, Izzy Fenwick, Jon Duffy
16:40 - 16:55
Get the opportunity to ask any electrification related questions to the speakers
Included
Closing Remarks
Victoria Crockford, Director of Heft
16:55
Included
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Speaking Session
Panel
Break
Electric Experience
Exhibition and Display
Monday, 18 May
Business Innovation, Investment & Policy
Queenstown Events Centre
Day 2 Ticket: $60
Session Type
session
speaker(s)
Time
Description
Price
Welcome
Paddy Gower, Journalist & John Glover, Mayor of Queenstown Lakes District
09:10 - 09:25
Included
The Competitive Advantages of Electrification
Mike Casey, CEO Rewiring Aotearoa
09:25 - 10:00
Driving local & national productivity, cost savings, resilience & innovation
Included
Principal Sponsor Keynote: Aurora Energy
Richard Fletcher, CEO Aurora Energy
10:00 - 10:30
Aurora Energy shares what’s next for the region’s electricity network
Included
Morning Tea + the How-To Hub Opens
10:30 - 11:15
Enjoy a delicious, sustainably sourced morning tea from Queenstown Catering
Included
Green Finance and Funding Pathways
Facilitator: Kate Archer, Panellists: Hannah Paterson (Westpac), Dr Marcos Pelenur (EECA)
11:15 - 11:50
Explore loans, grants, and funding options to support electrification
Included
How can Queenstown lead New Zealand's energy movement?
Sir Rod Drury, Founder of Xero
11:50-12:10
Explore how local action can electrify Aotearoa
Included
Ara Ake presents Reimagining Energy for a Low-Emissions Aotearoa
Briony Bennet (Ara Ake), Izzy Fenwick (New Zealand Climate Foundation), Dr Steve Batstone (QEA), Jo Hendy (Climate Change Commission)
12:10 - 12:35
Learn how renewables and new tech will shape New Zealand’s clean energy future
Included
Networking Lunch + How-To Hub Opens
12:35 - 13:45
Connect over a fresh, locally sourced networking lunch by Queenstown Catering
Included
Saul Griffith: The Global Direction of Electrification
Dr Saul Griffith, Inventor, Founder & Scientist
13:45 - 14:15
Energy visionary Dr Saul Griffith shares bold insights on global electrification
Included
The Future of New Zealand’s Energy System: A Leaders’ Debate: 14:15-16:30
National Party
National Party Representative
14:15 - 14:30
Included
Labour Party
Labour Party Leader: Rt Hon Chris Hipkins
14:30 - 14:45
Included
Green Party
Green Party Leader: Chlöe Swarbrick
14:45 - 15:00
Included
Opportunity Party
Opportunity Party Leader: Qiulae Wong
15:00 - 15:15
Included
Afternoon Tea + the How-To Hub Opens
15:15 - 15:45
Enjoy Queenstown Catering's delicious locally sourced, sustainable treats!
Included
The Future of New Zealand’s Energy System: Leaders’ Debate
National, Labour, Green, Opportunity representatives
15:45-16:30
A rare on-stage debate as party leaders discuss NZ’s energy and climate future
Included
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Speaking Session
Panel
Break
Exhibition and Display
Tuesday, 19 May
Practical business advice – the “How To”
Queenstown Events Centre
Day 3 Ticket: $25
Session
Type
session
speaker(s)
Time
Description
PRICE
Welcome
09:10 - 09:25
Introduction to day 1 from the facilitator
Included
Rewiring presents 'From Power Bills to Payback: A Business Guide to Electrification'
Jade Baker-Edwards & Lowri Swygart, Queenstown Electrification Accelerator Programme
09:25 - 09:45
Easily understandable, clear pathway to bill savings
Included
Aurora Energy presents 'Queenstown’s Pathway to a Better Energy System'
John Glover (QLDC Mayor), Josh Ellison (Rewiring Aotearoa), Jon Stone (Aurora Energy)
09:45 - 10:15
Building a better energy future for the district
Included
Morning Tea + the How-To Hub Opens
10:30 - 11:00
Enjoy Queenstown Catering's delicious locally sourced, sustainable treats!
Included
EV Matchmaker
Various Electric Car Companies
11:00 - 11:30
Hear from various EV companies to understand what might be best for your needs
Included
Transpower presents 'Electrify with Confidence'
Justan Clark (Transpower), Dr Steve Batstone (QEA), Danusia Wypych (ChargeNet)
11:30 - 12:00
Experts answer questions on what electrification means for us and the electricity system
Included
Networking Lunch + The How-To Hub Opens
12:00 - 13:15
Enjoy Queenstown Catering's delicious locally sourced, sustainable treats!
Included
The Electric Transport Future
Ross Copland (Southern Infrastructure), Eric Laakmann (Vessev) and Fiona Bycroft (Naut)
13:15 - 14:00
See how e-mobility and new transport solutions will shape movement in our region
Included
Changing the System from Within: A New Operating Model
Matt Strik
14:00 - 14:30
Farmlands Flex: transferable learnings for all industries
Included
Closing Remarks
14:30 - 14:40
Close of Electrify Queenstown 2026
Included
Networking & Finish
14:40 - 15:00
Included
Icon Key:
Speaking Session
Panel
Break
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