21.08.2025, New Zealand – Environmental campaign group 350 Aotearoa is launching a petition calling on the government to develop a comprehensive New Zealand Energy Strategy, arguing that recent Electricity Authority measures fall short of addressing the root causes of the country’s recurring winter energy challenges.
The petition launch comes as New Zealand faces a deepening energy crisis on multiple fronts. Just days after the Electricity Authority announced new rules aimed at boosting competition between electricity generators and retailers, MBIE today warned that gas supply is falling faster than expected, with natural gas reserves down 27% from last year and prices rising over 100%in five years. PowerSwitch GM Paul Fuge echoed calls for urgent action, stating there needed to be a national energy strategy and a plan for gas to manage what he described as an increasingly chaotic transition.
While 350 Aotearoa acknowledges the Electricity Authority measures as a step forward, the organisation argues they represent a drop in the ocean compared to what’s needed for long-term energy security across both electricity and gas sectors.
“Poor planning has led to this power shortage,” said Paddy Geddes, 350 Aotearoa volunteer. “While the four major gentailers – Meridian, Mercury, Genesis, and Contact – tell us it’s been a dry winter, the more truthful story is that they’ve prioritised shareholder profits over investing in new renewable generation capacity.”
The organisation points to concerning statistics: This month, Contact Energy released record profits. Meanwhile, the ratio of profits distributed to shareholders versus investment in new renewable energy capacity stands at approximately 2:1. [1]
“Climate change makes extreme weather events like droughts more likely, yet we continue to operate without adequate planning for these predictable challenges,” said Nicola Campbell, 350 Aotearoa volunteer. “If this happens every year, it’s not a crisis – it’s systemic failure.”
The government has committed to doubling renewable electricity generation by 2050, yet New Zealand has been without a comprehensive energy strategy since the previous one expired in 2021. Despite the Labour-led government beginning work on a replacement strategy, its release was stalled, leaving the country operating without strategic direction for years.
An Official Information Act request from March 2025 reveals that no decisions have been made on whether to proceed with developing a new energy strategy. This is despite MBIE having already spent $4.4 million from the now-scrapped Climate Emergency Response Fund on energy transition initiatives, including strategy development. [2]
350 Aotearoa highlights growing market concentration as electricity companies acquire smaller competitors. Recent examples include major gentailers buying out independent retailers like Flick Energy and Frank Energy, further reducing competition in an already concentrated market.
“The government is a majority shareholder in three of the four gentailers, giving it significant power to direct investment toward new renewable generation,” Campbell noted. “Yet while 110,000 households experience energy poverty, shareholders – including the government – enjoy billions in dividends.”
The petition calls for a cross-party approach to developing a New Zealand Energy Strategy to ensure stability across political cycles. 350 Aotearoa argues that energy planning requires long-term thinking that transcends electoral cycles.
“We need an energy market that works for people and the planet,” said Geddes. “Energy needs to be affordable, reliable, and sustainable – but this won’t happen by magic. It requires government leadership and strategic planning.”
ENDS
[1] GeneratingScarcity2023 FINAL compressed.pdf
[2] References available at request
Campaign information: https://350.org.nz/homegrown-energy/