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Engaging and future-focused kōrero at the 2023 Energy and Innovation Wānanga -23 May

It was Tā Tipene O ’Reagan who set the tone for the day when he said in his opening address, “We need to think differently, we need to dream differently, tell me what else we are going to do.”

Ranging from a global session on the importance of international partnerships to a kōrero around regional infrastructure and innovation, today’s discussions provided the opportunity for the Murihiku community to hear from industry experts and reflect upon how they can respond proactively to the challenges of our time.

Minister Megan Woods then went on to announce the government’s commitment to help Murihiku transition to a more resilient, sustainable economy. She says, “It is the local Rūnanga who have come together and been instrumental in ensuring we have clear plans for the future. It is the Murihiku Rūnanga who have really led from the front.”

Hon Megan Woods on Energy transition, Just Transitions and Government policy

Well over 250 people turned up to engage, participate and think about the future opportunities for the region and community. Many more connected in on live stream and social media. The response to the first day has been overwhelmingly positive.

Day one had a mix of international, national level, regional and local experts covering a focused range of topics about the potential future for Murihiku-Southland.

“Is about our whanau, our hapū, Iwi, Pacifica, and our whole community coming together to help direct how our future can be. It is about action,” was the clear mesage by Terry Nicholas from Hokonui Rūnanga and Murihiku Regeneration.

Day 2 will focus on regional priorities, plans and key updates from Rio Tinto on the future of the Tiwai Smelter, and updates on new projects including Southern Green Hydrogen and Southland Aquaculture porjects.

Whether you were on the ground in Waihōpai or tuning in from home, the Murihiku Regeneration team want your feedback and for you to have your say. Please let us know what you think and where you want us to focus our mahi.

Posted: 24 May 2023

2023 Energy and Innovation Expo Livestream Access Guide

Want to be a part of the 2023 Energy and Innovation Wānanga but can’t make it down to Waihōpai?

Thanks to our event livestream, you can stay up to date with everything taking place at the wānanga from the comfort of your couch.

Check out our livestream access guide and event program below. There is also an additional page on our website with just the links for you to look at.

2023 Energy and Innovation Expo Livestream Access Guide

Welcome to the livestream access guide for the 2023 Energy and Innovation Expo! We are excited to bring you the best seat in the house. Here’s everything you need to know to access and enjoy the livestream experience:

Step 1: Check out the below program and set reminders to ensure you don’t miss a moment of the event. Additionally, set alarms on your devices to alert you before the livestream starts. This way, you’ll be ready and tuned in at the right time.

Step 2: Click on the provided link (see below) of the session you would like to attend, and you should be taken directly to the correct webpage.

Step 3: Sit back, relax, and immerse yourself in the kōrero of your chosen session.

Remember to have a stable internet connection throughout the livestream for the best viewing experience. If you encounter any technical difficulties or have questions, our support team will be available to assist you via the provided contact information on the event website.

We hope you have an amazing time at our 2023 Energy and Innovation Expo through our livestream.

Thank you for joining us and being a part of this awesome opportunity to turn strategy into action.

Livestream Sessions Program

Tuesday 23 May 2023

Morning Session - https://vimeo.com/event/3406899

9.00am: Welcome and scene setting

• Terry Nicholas and Mayor Nobby Clark

9.25am: Opening addresses

• Tā Tipene O’Regan (Awarua Upoko) and Dr Mike Stevens (Awarua Rūnaka): Cohesion, alignment and national interest
• Minister Megan Woods (Minister of Energy and Resources, and Just Transitions): Energy transition, Just Transition and Government policy

10.15am: Global Session

• Session Chair: Dr Regina Eisert - From global to local – the importance of international partnerships

• German Consul
• Woodside New Energy: Jason Crusan, VP New Energy Solutions

11.10am: Empowering partnerships: government’s role in Aotearoa’s energy transition

• Session Chair: Dean Ford, GM Economic Development and Transitions, MBIE
• Carolyn Tremain, Chief Executive MBIE: Empowering partnerships through innovation
• Dean Ford: Just Transition programme update

11.45am: Climate economics

• Session Chair: Dr Mike Stevens
• Prof David Frame: Climate economics
• Greg Bodeker (Bodeker Scientific): Climate futures
• Lee Chambers (GNS): Sea level rise and groundwater

Afternoon Session - https://vimeo.com/event/3406903

1.15pm: Regional infrastructure

• Session Chair: Ross Copland, CE Te Waihanga/Infrastructure Commission
• John Clarke, Transpower GM Grid
• James Flannery, Contact Energy GM Strategy
• Jason Franklin, PowerNet CE
• Nigel Gear, South Port CE
• Stuart Harris, Invercargill Airport

2.20pm: Social regeneration and innovation

• Session Chair: Steph Voight, Public Sector Commissioner
• Professor Darrin Hodgetts and Professor James Liu: Social Regeneration Plan
• Gareth Williams, MSD GM Systems Performance: MSD analytics

3.15pm: Regional Innovation

• Session Chair: Rod Drury

4.05pm: The importance of the Māori economy through this change

• Session Chair: Arihia Bennett, CEO, Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu
• Mike Pohio, Chair, Ngāi Tahu Holdings Corporation

Case studies:

• Tupara Morrison, Head of Māori Development, Air New Zealand
• Andy Macfarlane, Director, Fonterra
• Helen Rogers, Head of Government Relations, Kiwi Rail

4.50pm: Reflections and wrap-up

Wednesday 24 May 2023

9:00am: Morning Session - https://vimeo.com/event/3406906

9.05am: Regional Leadership Panel

• Session Chair: Neil McAra
• Neil McAra, Southland Chamber of Commerce, and Tom Campbell, ICC
• Deputy Mayor

9.30am: Regional plans and priorities

• Session Chair: Chami Abeysinghe, CE Great South
• Bobbi Brown: Regional long-term plan
• Steve Canny: Regional decarbonisation targets
• Mervyn English: Energy transition issues
• Steve Canny: Process heat project
• Lynden Prebble: Carbon neutral farm initiatives
• Fonterra processing initiatives

10.50am: Developers Session – existing and new

• Session Chair: Terry Nicholas, Murihiku Regeneration
• Southern Green Hydrogen (Woodside, Meridian, Mitsui)
• Gabrielle Pennock, Woodside New Energy
• Murray Hill, Meridian Energy Limited
• Nozomu Ohiki and Jason Brown, Mitsui & Co

11.30am: NZAS: Tiwai Smelter Future

• NZAS and Rio Tinto representatives: Chris Blenkiron, CE NZAS, Nicole Atherton, Closure Readiness General Manager, Rio Tinto, Darren Schwass, Manager Closure Readiness, NZAS
• Awarua Rūnaka representatives: Jacqui Caine and Aimee Kaio

12.10pm: Southland Aquaculture

• Aimee Kaio, Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu

1.00pm Regional case studies: Decarbonisation

• Session Chair: Prue Halstead, Invest South
• Karyna Young, Yunca and EnPot
• David Simpson: T4 and Carbon (electric vehicle fleet management)
• Anthony Jones, CEO HWR

2.25pm: Innovation and Bluff re-imagining

• Jane Stanton, Seriously Good Chocolate Company

2.35pm: Confirming priorities

• MC, Mayors and Upoko

3.00pm: Closing

Posted: 19 May 2023

He Rau Kōrero - First Nations Advisory Roundtable

Nā Thomas Aerepo-Morgan i waituhi

‘Irirangi ana te tangi mai o te hau tāwhiriwhiri i tua o Kahu Ariki, ko te pakinga tai aroha i Te Rau o te Huia, ka tere i te kare o te wai ki tua whenua, ki Motu-pōhue, koia tonu, ko Awarua tai tangata tēnei, ka tau.’

Kura Wānanga | Insights

Murihiku Regeneration was presented with the opportunity to participate in the First Nations Advisory Roundtable alongside Australian Aboriginal leaders, and experts hosted by Woodside Energy in Perth. The roundtable provided a valuable opportunity to listen and share insights on climate resilience, economic sustainability for future generations through emerging opportunities in New Energy. By convening in a roundtable format, members are able to collaborate and leverage their collective expertise, resulting in amplified advocacy for their rights and exchange of ‘mātauranga’ (knowledge) and ‘rautaki’ (strategies) for preserving and promoting our cultures. By valuing and integrating this mātauranga (knowledge), we can draw attention to important causes and create a platform for raising awareness and effecting change.

In addition to the above, the diverse perspectives, cultural beliefs and practices are important when it comes to decisions around ‘New Energy’ projects, such as those being pursued by Woodside Energy. These projects often have significant impacts on our ‘whenua’ (land), people, and ‘wāhi tapu’ (cultural heritage sites). By taking into account the diverse perspectives of roundtable members, companies like Woodside can ensure that they are engaging in responsible and sustainable development practices that are culturally sensitive, respectful and align with the values of the communities it works with. Adopting a values-based approach in this context can help build trust and relationships with Indigenous communities, and lead to more effective and sustainable outcomes for all stakeholders involved.

This partnership is an example of how companies operating in the energy sector can work in partnership with Indigenous communities, in particular Murihiku Regeneration to address climate change. By building strong relationships and incorporating our authentic knowledge and practices, companies like Woodside Energy can play a vital role in the transition to a more sustainable future.

However, the task of addressing climate change is too great for any one organisation to tackle alone. My views around building resilience and adapting to the impacts of climate change requires ‘mahi tahi’ (collaboration) and partnership between diverse stakeholders. This is why Woodside Energy has recognised the importance of working in partnership with Murihiku Regeneration.

Strategic positioning is critical when developing kaupapa to engage with our communities, particularly for organisations like Woodside Energy that aim to work closely with Indigenous communities. It involves understanding the unique needs and values of our people and positioning the project in a way that aligns with our culture and aspirations as a people.

A clear and well-defined strategic position can also enable Woodside Energy to allocate resources more effectively and prioritise efforts towards areas where it can have the greatest positive impact on our people, and potentially Aotearoa, New Zealand. Ultimately, strategic positioning can help ensure that Woodside Energy’s initiatives are culturally relevant, respectful, and effective in engaging with Murihiku Regeneration and other Indigenous communities, leading to greater success and positive outcomes for all stakeholders involved.

In practice, building climate resilience for future generations involves a range of actions and kaupapa (initiatives) that can be undertaken by individuals, ‘ngā hapori whānui’ (communities), iwi organisations, and the government. These examples include:

➔ Renewable energy: Investing in and expanding the use of renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, hydro, geothermal, and biomass.

➔ Transportation: Promoting the use of low-carbon transportation options such as electric vehicles, public transportation, and active transportation modes such as biking and walking.

➔ Incorporating traditional knowledge and practices into climate resilience strategies. This may involve measures such as restoring wetlands, protecting important cultural sites, and integrating ‘Mātauranga Māori’ (Māori knowledge) into natural resource management plans.

➔ Climate education and awareness: Raising public awareness about the causes and impacts of climate change and promoting individual and collective actions to address it.

Whakarāpopototanga | Summary

In conclusion, the success of the First Nations Advisory Roundtable discussions on building climate resilience for future generations was evident in the valuable insights and perspectives shared. As we look towards a sustainable and prosperous future, it is critical that we prioritise the needs of our ‘uri whakaheke’ (future generations) and incorporate the knowledge and practices that have been passed down through generations.

We are very much at the beginning of this relationship and it is important that we take the time to establish strong foundations, understanding that the decisions we make today will impact the generations to come

Posted: 3 May 2023

Murihiku Upoko meet with Rod Drury to discuss Energy and Innovation Projects

On Friday 28th April, Murihiku Upoko Ta Tipene O’Regan (Awarua) and Terry Nicholas (Hokonui) met with Rod Drury and his team to discuss future energy, innovation and potentional Murihiku projects. The meeting was hosted at Te Whare o Te Waipounamu, by Ben Batemen, Chief Operating Officer at Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu.

Among the discussion points were electrification and renewable energy projects in the Wakatipu region and also linking in with the Hokonui Rūnanga led green energy projects workstream directed through Murihiku Regeneration.

“It was a rich and rewarding korero,’ Rod Drury “It has an exciting vision for the future in the wider region and for Murihiku Hapū and Ngāi Tahu to have a role in making it happen”

“These sorts of partnerships offer international opportunities to us. Rod stressed that capability not just capacity was very important in realising this sort of innovation, we are up for that” Said Terry Nicholas

Posted: 2 May 2023

Healthy Homes Pilot Project

Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu have a new pilot program initiative, in partnership with Awarua Synergy, to improve living standards for our whānau through improved health outcomes resulting from warmer, drier homes.

Through this programme, Awarua Synergy will identify any issues which are creating risks to whānau health due to living in an energy efficient, cold and/or damp home. They will also identify any improvements needed to bring the homes up to Healthy Home standards.

Awarua Synergy will work with the whānau to develop a home-healthiness improvement plan and work with the whānau to implement this plan. Including identifying funding and other support to achieve this.

To meet the criteria, whānau must live in the Murihiku (Southland) region and own their own home.

There is a limited number available for the Healthy Homes pilot project, so please get in touch if you wish to be part of the programme.

Please contact Awarua Synergy

PLEASE APPLY HERE - https://awaruasynergy.co.nz/ngaitahu/

Or contact Kiri Pudda for more information

Phone: 0800 warm south or 0800 927 676

Email: [Enable JavaScript to view protected content]

Contact Form: https://awaruasynergy.co.nz/ngaitahu/

Posted: 26 April 2023