The Electricity Engineers’ Association (EEA) and Energy Resources Aotearoa are launching a survey to gather detailed workforce data to inform workforce planning, decisions, and investment across New Zealand’s energy sector.
The survey will provide valuable insights into industry workforce trends and needs, directly informed by industry’s participation.
“This is the third time the EEA has run this survey and it comes at a crucial time for our industry. It’s never been more important to have a data-based understanding of our workforce needs and we are delighted to be working with Energy Resources Aotearoa to consider this across the whole energy sector,” says EEA Chief Executive Nicki Sutherland.
“Collaborating on the same song sheet is critical. A lack of visibility and knowledge across the sector about what our workforce needs now and, in the future, means we’re working behind closed doors trying to tackle the same challenge.”
A comprehensive stock take is the first step in the Re-Energise 2025 project jointly led by the EEA and Energy Resources Aotearoa, that will collect and analyse nationwide information and identify critical workforce gaps, training needs, and future skills necessary to support the evolving energy sector landscape. It will also map current training and career pathways while proposing actionable solutions for attracting, developing, and retaining the workforce required to power New Zealand’s future.
Energy Resources Aotearoa Chief Executive John Carnegie says the reforms to the vocational education and training delivery, including the new industry skills boards, need to be industry-led and this survey is both timely and critical, and actionable.
“By aligning analysis across all forms of energy, we can gather the evidence to inform future policy settings and better co-ordinate investment in talent development.
Having solid data at our fingertips ensures we can develop smarter, more responsive pathways to equip New Zealand with the talent it needs for an affordable, reliable and energy-abundant future,” says John Carnegie.
And with global competition for resources, Nicki Sutherland says this is as much about workforce retention as it is about attracting new people.
“We want to retain and attract the best for our sector. The imperative is to make sure we have a thriving workforce that can deliver the electrification of New Zealand – to understand and have a plan for both the new skills and the sheer numbers needed for this.”
The Re-Energise 2025 electricity supply industry and energy resources steering groups have now been formed to oversee the development of our report.
The survey opened today and closes on Friday, 22 August 2025.
EEA contact: Sally Aitken 021992886 ERA contact: Liam Hansen 027 242 9494
Additional information
The EEA is a membership body that works across the electricity sector. EEA is independent of interests and works with industry, for industry to unite, guide, and educate our talented workforce while making sure the voices of our membership are represented and heard through legislative and regulatory change.
Energy Resources Aotearoa is New Zealand’s peak energy industry body. We represent participants from right across the energy system, providing a strategic sector perspective on energy issues and their adjacent portfolios. Please visit our website for further details about our members and to learn more about Energy Resources Aotearoa’s initiatives.
The Re-Energise 2025 steering committees have been established to guide this important work. A list of members of each committee is below.
Re-Energise electricity supply industry steering group
| Mike Grumball David Humm Andrea O’Brien Cameron McKay Amanda Roscoe Tracy Evans-Tracy Greg McBain Brad Rooney Mark Jacob Jo Parag Megan Baker |
Waihanga Ara Rau Aruhiko | Power Engineering Excellence Trust Northpower Powerco Vector Connetics Genesis ElectroNet BECA EECA ENA |
Re-energise Energy Resources Aotearoa steering group
| Allie Hemara-Wahanui Chanon Cations Giacomo Caleffi Jo Neal Jonathan Young Keri Fleming Mel Whiting Nicky Riches Rachel Simpson Sean Markham Sheree Long (Chair) |
Western Institution of Technology at Taranaki Worley Taranaki Offshore Partnership, Copenhagen Methanex New Zealand Ara Ake OMV Powerco Hiringa Energy BusinessNZ Venture Taranaki Energy Resources Aotearoa |
