Award finalists named

15 Jun 2026

Finalists for the 2026 New Zealand Energy Excellence Awards have been announced, highlighting a sector undergoing significant transformation. 

Contact Energy features strongly with four finalist spots, while Orion Group and Transpower each appear in two categories. New entrants include SUPA Energy, BraveTrace, Channel Infrastructure NZ, New Zealand Steel, KiwiRail, and Woolworths NZ. 

Judging panel chair Harsharan Singh says entries reflect a shift in how energy is viewed and delivered. “Energy is increasingly seen as a social good, alongside changes in how it is produced, funded and managed,” he says. 

Awards organiser Irwin Munro says the finalists represent a diverse mix of organisations across generation, networks, retail, and large-scale energy use. “Together, they showcase an industry evolving across people, technology and purpose,” he says. 

The 2026 finalists are: 

FutureForce Award – sponsored by Ngākau Hihiko 

  • Contact Energy – Attracting early careers to lead New Zealand's renewable energy future 

  • Octopus Energy NZ – Empowering futures through squiggly career paths 

  • Orion Group – Ubuntu Programme: Enabling the workforce of tomorrow 

  • Transpower and Engineering NZ – Wonder Project: Power Challenge – Powering up our future workforce 

 

Innovation in Energy Award – available for sponsorship 

  • Contact Energy – Māpuna – Contact’s innovative geothermal well management solution 

  • SUPA Energy – SUPA: Distributed power, private capital, community wins 

  • Contact Energy and Syos Aerospace – Underwater Robotic Coating Measurement and Inspection System 

  • Transpower and The Solar Tsunamis Endeavour Programme – Space weather – from invisible risk to national resilience 

 

Energy Distributor of the Year – sponsored by Axos Systems 

  • Counties Energy – Reimagining energy to power thriving communities 

  • PowerNet – A high trust distributor proven under pressure 

  • The Lines Company – Small distributor, big community impact  

 

Community Initiative of the Year – sponsored by Eagle Technology 

  • Contact Energy – The Good Initiative 

  • Orion Group – Tautoru Mautai – a partnership to restore the whenua 

  • Reefton Powerhouse Charitable Trust – Reefton Powerhouse Project 

 

Young Energy Professional of the Year – sponsored by Elemental Group 

  • Northpower – Shaun Brown, General Manager – Engineering and Delivery 

  • Westpower/ElectroNet Group – Simon Harvey, General Manager Contracting 

  • Woolworths NZ – Chitranjan (Chintu) Rathod, Energy Operations and Innovation Manager 

 

Energy Retailer of the Year – sponsored by EDMI 

  • To be announced at the awards dinner 

 

Energy Project of the Year – sponsored by China Construction Bank New Zealand 

  • Channel Infrastructure NZ – Channel Infrastructure accelerated diesel storage for NZ 

  • Contact Energy – The Flex Factor: Glenbrook Ohurua Battery 1 

  • Eastland Generation – Showcase for shared success: TOPP2 geothermal power plant project 

 

Low Carbon Future Award – sponsored by TechnologyOne 

  • Alliance Group and Active Refrigeration – Alliance High Temperature Heat Pump Projects 

  • BraveTrace – BraveTrace NZECS: Proof that powers decarbonisation 

  • Fonterra Co-operative – Project Kōwhai – small footprint with a big impact 

 

Well-being Award – sponsored by Ergo Consulting 

  • Alpine Energy – Fully charged 

  • Bluecurrent – Well-being at Bluecurrent: From vision to visible action 

  • Genesis Energy – Women in Wholesale 

 

Large Energy User Initiative of the Year – sponsored by EECA 

  • KiwiRail – Decarbonising KiwiRail’s shunt fleet for a sustainable future 

  • New Zealand Steel – The New Zealand Steel Electric Arc Furnace – securing the future of steel making, a strategic asset for NZ 

  • Woolworths NZ – Predicative Power: Scaling AI-driven decarbonisation across New Zealand 

Joining Singh on the judging panel this year are Sapere Research Group director Toby Stevenson, independent consultant John Hancock, Water New Zealand chief executive Gillian Blythe, strategy and management consultant Carmen Blackler, Enerlytica director and head of research John Kidd, Genesis biomass business development manager Dave Binnie, and Carbon Match director Lizzie Chambers. 

Awards winners will be announced at a gala event at Tākina, Wellington on Wednesday 19 August. Buy your table here. On the night support will come from table display sponsor Gentrack, VIP Function sponsor Hitachi Energy, and after-party sponsor Anderson Lloyd.  

The awards programme is also supported by: Energy Resources Aotearoa, ERGANZ, GasNZ, Electricity Networks Aotearoa, Electricity Engineers' Association, New Zealand Wind Energy Association, Major Electricity Users' Group, Carbon and Energy Professionals New Zealand, and the Young Energy Professionals Network.