Queenstown Goes Electric: three-day energy summit lands this weekend

Queenstown plugs in this weekend. **Electrify Queenstown 2026** lands at the Queenstown Events Centre across three days — 17–19 May — bringing together politicians, energy experts, business leaders, and the wider community for the country's most ambitious clean-energy gathering of the year.

This story features as our latest Instagram update — see the post on [@queenstowntourism on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/queenstowntourism/) (opens in a new tab) and share it on with anyone heading along.

## The three days

**Sunday 17 May — Electric Experiences.** The community-facing day. Tours of high-performance homes, off-grid hospitality demonstrations at Kinloch, electric boats and bikes on Lake Wakatipu, and the free **How-To Hub** at the Events Centre with dedicated zones for solar and batteries, EVs, home heating and cooking, and finance. Independent experts on hand. Open to anyone — no ticket needed for the Hub.

**Monday 18 May — Business Innovation, Investment & Policy.** Keynotes, finance and investment panels, and the centrepiece event: *The Future of New Zealand's Energy System — Political Debate*, 2:15–4:30 pm. Six politicians from six parties on one stage:

- **David Seymour** — ACT, Deputy Prime Minister - **Chris Hipkins** — Leader of the Labour Party - **Simeon Brown** — National, Minister for Energy - **Chlöe Swarbrick** — Green Party Co-Leader - **Shane Jones** — NZ First, Associate Minister for Energy - **Qiulae Wong** — The Opportunities Party Leader

Moderated by journalist Paddy Gower.

**Tuesday 19 May — How to Electrify.** Implementation-focused day for business operators and teams. Practical sessions on real-world energy projects, payback timelines, and the systems already in play across NZ.

## Speakers and panellists

Alongside the political line-up, the programme features Dr Saul Griffith (international energy innovator), Mike Casey (CEO of Rewiring Aotearoa), Sir Rod Drury (Xero founder), and environmentalist Izzy Fenwick.

## Why this matters for visitors

If you're in town this weekend and curious about Queenstown's clean-energy push, **Sunday's free How-To Hub is the easiest entry point**. Bring your questions about solar, batteries, EVs, or home heating — the experts are there to answer one-on-one. The Kinloch off-grid demonstrations are a 50-minute drive north of town and worth combining with a Glenorchy day trip.

If the debate is your draw, Monday tickets are nearly gone — book today.

## Tickets and info

Day passes and full three-day options are available at [electrifyqueenstown.co.nz](https://www.electrifyqueenstown.co.nz/) (opens in a new tab).

*Source: Electrify Queenstown / Rewiring Aotearoa, verified against multiple outlets 13 May 2026.*