electrify everything
Electrify Nelson Expo is a FREE day out for the whole community, featuring exhibits, expert speakers, live demonstrations and practical advice to help you save money, gain energy independence, reduce emissions, and build a more resilient future.
Whether you’re looking to lower your power bill, future-proof your home, explore options for your business or simply see what’s possible, Electrify Nelson Expo will help you understand your choices and connect with the people who can make them happen!
OUr 2026 speakers
Our 2026 speaker session brought together experts from across electrification, business, politics and sustainability for a packed day of insight, practical advice and fresh thinking.
HOST | COUNCILLOR JAMES HODGSON
Nelson City Council
The programme was hosted by Councillor James Hodgson, a Nelson City Councillor with a strong interest in sustainability, urban development and community resilience. An experienced communicator and facilitator, James guided the day’s conversations, helping audiences explore the opportunities and challenges of electrification in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Matt Newman
Community organiser, facilitator and farmer Matt Newman works alongside communities, marae and local leaders across the motu. He shared how Rewiring Aotearoa’s growing grassroots movement is taking electrification into communities – building local momentum and helping people realise the economic and resilience benefits of an electric future.
Jay Salzke
Jaydan (Jay) Salzke is an educator and community builder. As Ecosystem Lead for Rewiring Aotearoa, he is building a network of community groups accelerating local electrification. With over 25 electric communities up and running, Rewiring Aotearoa is supporting a local-led national movement to secure the lowest bills, lowest emissions and highest resilience energy future for New Zealand.
Jay replaced Mike Casey, representing Rewiring Aotearoa, who was unable to join the Nelson Expo due to illness. Read Q&A with Mike
Nathan Clarke & Daniela Ramírez
Nathan Clarke and Daniela Ramírez took us inside some of Nelson City Council’s electrification projects. From solar and batteries across Council buildings to renewable energy and resource recovery, they showed what electrification looks like in practice – and how these investments can cut costs and carbon while strengthening resilience.
Hear how Nathan is turning waste into regional resilience
Read about Daniela’s work in the Climate Change team at Nelson City Council
Who’s Got the Power?
Daniel Vincent & Robert Derks
As rooftop solar grows and homes, businesses and transport use more electricity, what does that mean for our local grid? Daniel Vincent and Robert Derks unpacked the changing patterns of electricity generation and demand, and how Network Tasman is preparing the network for an increasingly electric future.
Toby Nicholls
Toby Nicholls showed how solar and battery storage can work together as a complete home energy system – capturing, storing and using more home-owned electricity, reducing reliance on the grid and giving households greater control over their energy, and communities more resilience.
Pic Picot
Ben Fechney
Ben Fechney has spent almost 20 years in the HVAC industry, including five years with Daikin and time with product stewardship organisation Cool-Safe. A long-time advocate for energy-efficient technology, Ben’s passionate about helping Kiwis get the most from heat pumps and other smart electric solutions that improve comfort while reducing energy costs.
David Charlton
Electricity retail is changing. David Charlton showed how smarter pricing, products and services can help households get more value from going electric – from making the most of solar and batteries to charging EVs at the right time and shifting energy use to when electricity costs less.
Hon Dr Nick Smith
Second-term Mayor of Nelson, Hon Dr Nick Smith is a civil engineer with more than 30 years’ experience in public service. Following his retirement from Parliament in 2021, he managed the construction of New Zealand’s largest wind farm at Turitea. Dr Smith is a Fellow of Engineering New Zealand and serves on several regional governance boards, bringing a strong interest in infrastructure, energy and the region’s future.
Roger Robson-Williams
Roger Robson-Williams and his wife Melissa run re:generations, a smallholding-based living lab showcasing an integrated solar energy system which utilises the battery storage in their EVs and electric tractor, alongside a static battery. Roger is also Founder of Future-Fit Aotearoa New Zealand, where he helps businesses navigate a science-based path to genuine sustainability.
Who’s Got the Power?
The Nelson Electorate Political Panel for 2026
An opportunity to meet the candidates vying to be Nelson’s next MP – and hear what they and their parties are offering.
Steered by Johny O’Donnell, the discussion explored where the candidates stood on energy issues and what each would seek to deliver for Nelson. This facilitated panel covered the politics, policies and practical ideas that could power our region into the future.
facilitator | Johny O'Donnell
Johny is the founder of O’D & Co, a Nelson-based communications consultancy specialising in strategic communications, stakeholder engagement and facilitation. With extensive experience helping organisations navigate complex conversations, Johny will facilitate the Expo’s political candidates panel, ensuring a balanced, engaging and informative discussion.
Rachel Boyack
Rachel Boyack is the MP for Nelson and Labour’s spokesperson for Arts, Culture and Heritage, Animal Welfare, and Oceans and Fisheries. A former union organiser, she is focused on healthcare, good jobs, housing, and ensuring Nelson remains a great place to live, work, and raise a family.
Blair Cameron
Blair Cameron is National’s candidate for Nelson. He has worked internationally with Princeton University, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, bringing experience in economics, public policy and international development. He is standing for Parliament for a second time after narrowly missing election in 2023.
Chris Baillie
Rohan O'Neill-Stevens
Jodie Kuntzsch
Trusted local experts serving the region since 2006, offering premium solar, battery and energy resilience solutions.
Global leader in heating, cooling and hot water heat pump technology, delivering efficient climate solutions for homes and businesses.
Full service Nelson vehicle dealership established in 1965, representing MG, Nissan, Suzuki, Subaru and TyreLand.
Nelson’s biggest independent mortgage adviser, helping homeowners and businesses access green lending and finance for energy-efficient upgrades.
The Geely company umbrella which covers Volvo, Lotus and Polestar brings Geely, Zeekr, Riddara utes and Farizon Vans to the Nelson region.
Suppliers of premium carbon fibre e-bikes, innovative bike carrier systems and cycling accessories.
New Zealand’s largest solar retailer, trusted to deliver tailored energy systems that help homeowners shift to more economical, renewable energy.
Local Kia dealership (powered by MS Motors) offering electric and hybrid vehicles, fleet solutions, servicing and EV-capable technicians.
Designs and installs solar, battery storage and EV charging systems for homes, businesses and farms throughout New Zealand.
Local mortgage advisers helping Nelson homeowners finance solar, batteries, heat pumps and EVs through smart, tailored home loan solutions.
Richmond’s local bicycle specialists, offering e-bikes, traditional bikes, accessories, servicing and expert workshop support.
Supporting rental property owners with practical advice and advocacy, including how solar and electrification can reduce tenants’ living costs while creating better, more attractive rental properties.
A regional charitable trust connecting communities, businesses, councils and iwi to inspire and support practical climate action across Nelson Tasman.
A smallholding living lab integrating solar, EV and e-tractor battery storage, biodiversity, food and fibre, and sharing learnings along the way.
Offering a wide range of outdoor power equipment, including high-performance battery-powered tools that are quieter, cleaner and backed by expert advice and service.
Installing and operating large-scale solar and batteries on commercial buildings, creating local energy networks that benefit businesses and communities.
Local experts providing tailored solar and battery solutions for savings and resilience, backed by trusted advice, quality installation and ongoing support.
Local specialists in heat pumps – both hot water and air, solar pumps, rainwater harvesting and filtration and Husqvarna battery-powered tools.
From bodies to batteries, good connections are key to healthy, resilient systems. Connected Chiropractic helps people find the source of their pain and the right pathway to address it.
Our Story
Electrify Nelson is a local advocacy group initiated by Rewiring Aotearoa, which helps households, farms and businesses transition from expensive fossil fuels to affordable, locally generated electricity.
Electrification can reduce energy costs, improve resilience and strengthen New Zealand’s energy independence, while also lowering emissions and increasing efficiency.
Through events, education and community engagement, Electrify Nelson is helping people understand the opportunities electrification presents and the practical steps they can take towards an electric future. The Electrify Nelson Expo is part of this effort, bringing local businesses, experts and practical solutions together in one place. It follows a precedence of similar expos run by the Electrification brand – through Rewiring Aotearoa – across Aotearoa New Zealand and Australia.
Founded in 2024, Rewiring Aotearoa is a non-partisan, non-profit organisation that has quickly become a leading voice for electrification in New Zealand, helping to shape national conversations and policy on energy, transport and emissions reduction.
Try Rewiring Aotearoa’s Household Calculator to see how you might be able to save money on energy, costs to upgrade to more efficient solutions, and the overall impact on your household emissions.
Support Electrify Nelson as a volunteer!
OUr supporters
Image: Nelson At Night | nelsontasman.nz