A quarterly update for iwi, hapū and Māori with interests in the energy and resources sector.
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Nau mai, haere mai ki Pānui – Energy and Resource Markets
This is a quarterly update that covers relevant information for iwi, hapū and Māori with interests in the energy and resources sector, and provides opportunities to share your views directly with the Energy and Resource Markets branch.
The Energy and Resource Markets branch is part of The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.
Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga representatives host Associate Minister of Housing (Māori Housing) Peeni Henare and others at the Waingākau Housing Development where 9 more homes will soon have solar panels installed. Photo: Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga.
Māori to reap the benefits of new renewable energy fund
9 homes at the Waingākau Housing Development in Flaxmere, Hastings are in line to have solar panels installed thanks to MBIE’s new Renewable Energy Fund for Māori housing.
For the residents in those households, this means access to clean and cheap power, which can lead to warmer, healthier homes and lower energy bills. The solar installation is part of a bigger project by Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga to help people achieve homeownership and create a supportive, intergenerational community.
Mike Paku, director of Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga, said “We have a commitment to deliver warm homes to whānau and this [funding] announcement help us to achieve this.”
14 other renewable energy projects around the country also received funding. In total, $2.9 million was allocated in this funding round, benefitting more than 200 households.
Most of the projects focus on solar panels, household batteries and micro-grid solutions to share energy across multiple households.
One of the fund’s key objectives is improving the health and wellbeing of the targeted households through lowering power bills and encouraging people to use more electricity to heat their homes.
The selected projects target households in need including homes of low-income whānau, kaumātua and kuia, and those living in papakāinga or iwi-owned rentals.
The fund’s remaining $11.1 million will be allocated through future funding rounds over the next 3 years.
This fund is one-half of the $28 million Renewable Energy Fund for Māori and Public Housing. Funding for public housing projects is being managed separately.
Keep a look out on the Māori Housing Renewable Energy Fund webpage for information on future funding rounds.
Māori Housing Renewable Fund webpage - MBIE
Find out more about the Waingākau Housing Development - Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga
Petroleum decommissioning Bill published
In our December issue we updated you of the government’s work on strengthening the law around the decommissioning of petroleum infrastructure. This work is focussed on making sure petroleum permit holders have a clear legal duty to decommission, and that they have sufficient funds to do so.
The Crown Minerals (Decommissioning and Other Matters) Amendment Bill – has recently been published. Regulations to support the implementation of the Bill are also being developed.
If you would like to discuss this work more or work with us on the development of the regulations, please email our Resource Markets Policy team Resource.Markets.Policy@mbie.govt.nz.
You may have an opportunity to submit on the Bill during the Select Committee process. As this process is run through the Parliamentary process we recommend looking out for an opportunity to make a submission on the Make a submission - New Zealand Parliament page.
Crown Minerals (Decommissioning and Other Matters) Amendment Bill - Parliament.nz
Energy and Industry – Emissions Reduction Plan
You may have seen the Climate Change Commission’s first advice ‘Ināia tonu nei: a low emissions future for Aotearoa’ is now available for the public to read.
The Government has until 31 December this year to consider and respond to the Commission’s advice. This will include settings, policies and strategies on how Aotearoa New Zealand can meet its climate targets, which include the Emissions Reduction Plan (ERP).
Here in the Energy and Resource Markets branch, we are leading work on the Energy and Industry (E&I) component of the ERP, previously named the Heat, Industry and Power sector chapter.
If you think your iwi or organisation has a current or future role in these industries, we’d encourage you to talk with our team. Establishing long-term Treaty relationships is important for future energy policy decisions and work programmes. Together we can ensure decarbonisation delivers positive benefits for Māori.
If you are interested in becoming involved in upcoming formal engagement about the E&I emissions reduction plan, we’d like to hear from you. Please contact us at energytransition@mbie.govt.nz.
Defining Energy Hardship
What is energy hardship in Aotearoa and how should we measure it? Next month you’ll be able to have your say when MBIE releases its Defining Energy Hardship discussion document for public consultation. The discussion document outlines MBIE’s proposed definition of energy hardship and several measures that can be used to help identify and monitor energy hardship over time.
Events will be organised for interested iwi and Māori groups to share their thoughts on energy hardship and the proposed definition work. If you would like to attend, please email definingenergyhardship@mbie.govt.nz.
Anyone will be able to make a submission using the online survey or form, which will be available on the MBIE website when the consultation opens.
The consultation will run for 6 weeks, after which MBIE will draw on feedback from submissions to finalise the definition and measures.
The definition and measures will be used by government and others to better target and assess the effectiveness of initiatives aimed at lifting households out of energy hardship.
More information about how to make a submission will be available on the MBIE website soon.
You can email the team at definingenergyhardship@mbie.govt.nz to be notified when the consultation opens.
About 65 people attended the ‘EnergyMate’ community hui in Porirua, run by ERANZ with funding support from the SEEC Programme. Photo: ERANZ
Applications open for community-level energy education initiatives
Organisations that can deliver energy education are invited to apply for the second funding round of the Support for Energy Education in Communities (SEEC) Programme. There is $1.65 million available in this round, which is open to those who work directly with households, empowering them to keep their homes warm and dry, and lower their power bills.
9 initiatives around the country were allocated funding from the first funding round in May. The Electricity Retailers’ Association of New Zealand (ERANZ) was one of the organisations to receive funding in the first round. ERANZ is directing SEEC funding to expand its ‘EnergyMate’ energy coaching services, focusing on Māori and Pasifika communities. This expanded programme kicked off with a hui in Porirua where about 65 people received free energy-efficient LED lightbulbs and learnt how to heat their homes efficiently within their budget.
Applications for the second funding round must be received by 5pm, Friday 30 July.
Visit the SEEC webpage for more information and details on how to apply
Check out the TVNZ story on the EnergyMate programme
Beehive.govt.nz announcement - Government gives households extra help to reduce their power bills
He Pākihi Māori koe?
For the first time, Māori businesses can identify themselves as Māori business on the New Zealand Business Number register.
This will lead to a better understanding of the role Māori businesses play in the New Zealand economy.
Some of the reasons that might influence Māori business to self-identify as a Māori business include:
- ownership and directorship
- staff members
- philosophy and tikanga
- management practices
- branding and marketing
- tangible assets such as land or fishing rights
- intangible assets like Kaupapa Māori or cultural property
Traci Houpapa, Chair of the Federation of Māori Authorities (FOMA) noted “It has been great to see government listen to our issues and suggestions and to see tangible results. There is more work to do but we can finally start to see a solution to the lack of data on Māori economic activity.”
If you are, or know of a business operator you are encouraged to keep your NZBN data up to date and made publicly available. The more that information is gathered and kept up to date, the more clarity there will be about the size and contribution of the Māori economy to New Zealand.
Businesses can update their NZBN or register for the first time on the New Zealand Business Number website.
Interested in being on the Energy Hardship Reference Group?
We are now inviting nominations for our Energy Hardship Reference Group. MBIE is establishing this group to provide a forum to share information and encourage coordination across industry, NGOs, iwi/Māori and government agencies to help us better work together to shift the dial on energy hardship.
We are looking for representatives from organisations (including community organisations, consumer advocates, industry participants and regulators) with a diverse range of skills and perspectives, good connections to the kaupapa of reducing energy hardship, and who are interested in helping advise on and coordinate cohesive, cost-effective energy hardship initiatives. Key government agencies will also take part in the Reference Group.
The Reference Group will provide a forum for organisations and groups to share insights and updates on their work, and test their ideas. It will not be responsible for making decisions or delivering projects.
If you are interested in nominating either yourself or someone you know, please email energymarkets@mbie.govt.nz with the name of the nominee, a brief description of their interest and suitability for the role, and their contact details. If you are nominating someone else, please make sure you have their permission to put forward their name and details.
Nominations close 5pm, Friday 16 July. Thank you to all those who have already submitted nominations as part of an earlier call for Energy Hardship Expert Panel and Reference Group nominations. Rest assured these remain valid and will be considered. Some funding may be available, on application, to support participation by those from the not-for-profit sector.
All nominees will be assessed against the criteria by a panel from our team to identify the mix of people that best delivers a balanced and diverse range of perspectives, connections and skills. The size of the Reference Group is not yet determined. We are committed to ensuring it will represent a range of perspectives but are mindful it needs to be a workable size.
The Reference Group will interact with, and complement the work of the Energy Hardship Expert Panel (a Ministerially appointed independent group being formed to advise government) and other groups such as the newly formed Consumer Advocacy Council and ERANZ Consumer Care Working Group.
We look forward to hearing from you!
Nominations close 5pm, Friday 16 July
