Invercargill Hosting Regeneration Expo This Week

An invitation only energy and innovation expo is on this week at the Ascot Park Hotel featuring some high profile Australasian speakers.

Murihiku Regeneration is hosting the expo in conjunction with the Invercargill City Council, and starts today with school teachers invited to Transport World where they will learn about the ‘New Futures’ programme.

The day will explore the realities of green energy and a decarbonised economy alongside how the school curriculum can be enriched using hydrogen science kits.

Tomorrow Tā Tipene O’Regan, Ngai Tahu historian Dr Mike Stevens and the Minster of Energy and Resources Megan Woods will open the ‘Energy and Innovation’ programme.

The expo will consider topics including a path to certainty for the Tiwai smelter, climate change, environmental decline and a regenerative view of sustainability.

Wednesday is all about action plans decarbonisation targets, energy transition issues and developments such as the Southern Green Hydrogen, Tiwai’s remediation programme, and related opportunities for renewable energy projects.

Challenges such as climate resilience, economic disruption, and the need to develop effective social infrastructure is more important than ever.

Hokonui Rūnanga established Murihiku Regeneration in 2020 to work closely and collaboratively with the Crown, giving voice and meaning to local Treaty obligations to Ngāi Tahu.

Uncertainty surrounding the future of Tiwai and the deep impact its signalled closure would have on the community triggered the formation of the programme.

Its mahi is focused on the collective interests of all people living in Murihiku/Southland and in the national interest.