About SEANZ

SEANZ as the peak organisation leads the energy independence vision and the new way by establishing and maintaining the platforms on which the technology, stakeholders, legislation, policy, events and standards operate.

SEANZ is independent and represents all stakeholders from business to end-users of solar, batteries, home and building energy management systems and associated consumer-centric energy technology - tools and applications for self-generation and demand management.

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Contact Us

Rebecca George - Administrator/Board Secretary

021 2893 893

Contact Rebecca for all general and membership enquiries.

Kristin Gillies - Digital Director

210658460

Contact Kristin for all media and communications enquiries

Dwayne Cocker - Industry Liaison

021 499 209

Dwayne takes responsibility for engagement with new and potential SEANZ members and affiliates. He is the founder of Taspac, a wholesaler of solar PV and related technologies.

Michael Lawley - Grid Assisted ELV Group Lead

067522765

Contact Michael for information about our extra low-voltage working group. Michael joined the SEANZ ELV working group in 2016 to assist ELV members with the rules and regulations to help ensure quality and safety.

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SEANZ Tech Team

Michael Lawley - Grid Assisted ELV Group Lead

Michael was born in the UK and has had an interest in renewable energy since his teenage years. Since the mid 1990’s he has lived off-grid in NZ using solar and hydro power with a system comprising a 9kW inverter, 20kW of PV array and a 1.5kW hydro plant. His main business is the manufacture of PowerSpout hydro turbines (mainly for export) and a solar powered pump for stock water on rural farms. As part of the SEANZ Tech Team he wants to ensure that members install safe and compliant systems. This work often results in email debates with SEANZ members (and sometimes their clients) on the subject of Standards. It also helps to keep me informed of the rules in an ever changing compliance landscape. If you are SEANZ installer uncertain of the rules (mainly off-grid on the ELV side is where his expertise lies) then please make contact with him. If you have filed a complaint with SEANZ about the work of a member then Michael may be tasked to investigate the installation and report back. All Tech Team members volunteer their time in hope the issue can be resolved to the satisfaction of all the parties concerned.

Greg Hoskins - Standards and Technical Development

Principal of Hoskins Energy Systems, Greg is a practitioner of designing and installing solar PV and storage systems - grid connected and off-grid. With 35 years in the feild, Greg is the industrys technical go to man. A master electrician he has extensive history in electrical work and renewable energy system implementations in New Zealand and the Pacific Islands. Appointed to the SEANZ board in 2010, Greg as a systems integrator brings pragmatic and real world expertise that is vital to define and maintain the right standards for the technologies and their implementation in New Zealand, given local differences in the industry. Greg serves on other industry boards and is a member of the AUS NZ EL-042 Standards Committee - Renewable Energy Systems of Standards.

Mark Eagles - Consultant Engineer

Mark Eagles is employed by Solarcity NZ Ltd as a Consultant Engineer. He worked as Head of Engineering for three years prior to his current position. Mark founded and operated a small electrical contracting business from 2007 - 2014, specialising in solar on grid and off grid installations around NZ. During that time, the company completed multiple small to medium sized solar projects including the +60kW Auckland War Memorial Museum, numerous rural and urban systems. He also completed several installation projects in the Pacific Islands, including The Solomons, Tonga, Samoa and Rarotonga. Mark achieved a Bachelor of Engineering in Combined Engineering Studies from Coventry in the UK in the late 80’s before emigrating to NZ. Mark is one of the SEANZ representatives to the AUS/NZ EL-042 joint standards committee for renewable energy. He is a NZ registered Electrician and has successfully completed all of the NZ Electrical Inspectors Examinations. Mark currently lives in Wanaka, is married and has two children. -- Solar Electric Services Ltd T/A Smartsparky - became a Ltd co in April 2012

Regan Heal -

Regan is General Manager of Central Otago based Infinite Energy. Prior to establishing Infinite Energy in 2013, Regan worked as a Business Development Manager for EECA (Energy Efficiency & Conservation Authority) helping deliver the Warm Up New Zealand campaign. Regan is passionate about the environment & renewables, and maintains a keen interest in construction and building science. This interest has seen Regan recently gain the Homestar Practitioner qualification, and he believes we have a great opportunity to be the generation that drives the shift towards better, healthier, more efficient housing for all New Zealand families.

Martin Diprose -

With a degree in Electrical Engineering, Martin has been involved in the solar industry for many years. He is registered as an Electrical Engineer and an Electrical Inspector. Based in Palmerston North, Martin has been working as a solar design engineer at McNae Electrical Solutions for seven years. Initially he spent time on roofs installing solar, but now spends most of his time in the office. He takes a keen interest in the regulations and standards that govern the electrical and photovoltaic industry. Before joining McNae Electrical Solutions, Martin spent 10 years in Uganda living in a remote village that did not have grid electricity. Martin and his family were involved in language development work and they lived off grid on a 240-watt solar system. Today the average sized residential solar system is nearly twenty times that size. The four 60W solar panels that Martin’s family lived on fifteen years ago cost over $8 per watt. Today, solar panels cost just 80 cents per watt. Martin says, “with this pace of technology change, it won’t be long before every house in New Zealand will see it as a no-brainer to install as many solar panels as they can fit on their roof.”

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SEANZ Board of Directors

Brendan Winitana - Chairman

Brendan is an independent director and chair of SEANZ. With a background in governance, senior management and strategic planning, Brendan has held CEO and director roles in imaging solutions, IT and content management businesses as well as his own consulting practice specialising in industry and sector transformation and change and resulting new business models. As an independent director he serves on other boards. His passion lies with SEANZ –and the outcomes it seeks based on the expected exponential industry development to help drive the low carbon economy.

Greg Hoskins - Standards and Technical Development

Principal of Hoskins Energy Systems, Greg is a practitioner of designing and installing solar PV and storage systems - grid connected and off-grid. With 35 years in the feild, Greg is the industrys technical go to man. A master electrician he has extensive history in electrical work and renewable energy system implementations in New Zealand and the Pacific Islands. Appointed to the SEANZ board in 2010, Greg as a systems integrator brings pragmatic and real world expertise that is vital to define and maintain the right standards for the technologies and their implementation in New Zealand, given local differences in the industry. Greg serves on other industry boards and is a member of the AUS NZ EL-042 Standards Committee - Renewable Energy Systems of Standards.

Rebecca George - Administrator/Board Secretary

With a degree in Applied Science majoring in environmental management, Rebecca spent five years working in London with the Energy Saving Trust. Rebecca managed the Major Solar PV Programme, a NZ$65M government programme established to develop the solar industry in the UK. She managed the pilot of the Energy Saving Trust Advice Centres, successfully running throughout the UK, which advises on all matters pertaining to energy efficiency and onsite generation. Rebecca is passionate about the space and works to ensure SEANZ stakeholder value is delivered through its operation.

Kristin Gillies - Digital Director

Kristin joined the board in 2016 to develop our communications strategy. Past roles in the not-for-profit sector have led Kristin to a career in digital communications and strategy. Kristin is motivated by the possibility for distributed renewable energy to increase energy democracy and contribute to resolving the climate crisis.

Dwayne Cocker - Industry Liaison

Dwayne takes responsibility for engagement with new and potential SEANZ members and affiliates. He is the founder of Taspac, a wholesaler of solar PV and related technologies.

Kristy Hoare - Director

Kristy has been in the solar industry for over 8 years, first at Powersmart Solar and now as the owner of My Solar Quotes, an online service that connects consumers with credible solar installers. Kristy’s unique position provides SEANZ with valuable insight into the hurdles consumers face and also many of the business challenges of SEANZ members.

Michael Lawley -

Michael was born in the UK and has had an interest in renewable energy since his teenage years. Since the mid 1990’s he has lived off-grid in NZ using solar and hydro power . Michael is part of the SEANZ Tech Team, contributes his ELV/off-grid knowledge and investigates technical complaints against SEANZ members.

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SEANZ Advisory Group

Simon MacKenzie - Group Chief Executive - Vector

Simon has been with Vector for 16 years and was appointed its Group CEO in 2008. He has extensive experience in the infrastructure sector, including strategy, regulation, network management, information technology and telecommunications. In addition to international experience in the construction and consultancy sectors, Simon has tertiary qualifications in engineering, finance and business studies, and has completed the Advanced Management Program at the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania. As an infrastructure business, Simon leads Vectors transformation into the new energy sector to create the new energy future. Solar PV, storage and energy services form a part of that strategy.

Chris Talbot - Managing Director – YHI New Zealand

On completing his Bachelor of Commerce from University of Auckland, Chris held a variety of accounting, branch and sales management positions in the industrial, agricultural and CNG/LPG vehicle conversion sectors. Moving to Cheviot Pacific Ltd, who manufactured and distributed a range of automotive products, Chris was appointed Sales and Marketing Manager. In 1996 Chris established YHI (New Zealand) Ltd who today distribute a wide range of power and automotive products including an extensive portfolio of solar PV and storage and battery brands. YHI maintain six branches across New Zealand and are a major supplier to the industry throughout the country.

Phil Harrison - Managing Director - Harrisons Energy Solutions

Phil has been involved in the retail sector for over 25 years, developing and building successful businesses within a number of industries that can scale. He has a strong entrepreneurial spirit which brings new vigour and alternative perspectives to some of the obstacles and challenges that we face with the solar and battery industry. His involvement and interest in solar started back in 2012 and over that time has built a successful nationwide network of business owners, specialising in residential and SME solutions.

Scott Russell - Principal Russell Legal – Commercial and Litigation

Scott advises and represents SEANZ in all legal matters. Scott has worked at the highest level in private practice, in-house roles and in the government sector. He started his career in private practice with Bell Gully, before moving to London and Hong Kong with Ashurst. He then moved in-house as Head of Litigation at Virgin Media UK. On his return to New Zealand Scott worked as Senior Legal Counsel at the Commerce Commission before founding Russell Legal. Scott also has a strong academic background in both business and law having completed an LLB (Hons), a BCom (Economics) where he received the Auckland University Senior Prize and has recently completed his MBA at University of Auckland. Scott has provided SEANZ with successful and positive outcomes, given his unique ability to solve complex legal problems gained from his practical experience working on all sides of the table.

Terry Paddy - Managing Director, Cortexo

Terry spent the first 20 years of his career in the aviation sector after completing a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics at Canterbury University. In 2001 he started a software development company with a colleague that became Cortexo, specialising in remote monitoring and control in the electricity industry and in particular, the connection and control of distributed energy resources. In 2017 Terry was appointed to the Electricity Authorities Innovation and Participation Advisory Group (IPAG) which provides advice to the Authority board on the new innovation and business models in the electricity sector. His specific areas of interest are data privacy and security and in the wider use of distributed energy flexibility to drive our zero-carbon, 100% renewable future. In 2014 he was made a Fellow of the NZ Institute of Management and is a member of the Institute of Directors.

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Consultative Services

SEANZ provides Consultative Services for organisations wanting to understand more about the renewable energy space within New Zealand and the Pacific Islands.
SEANZ can provide industry, technical and commercial advice, data and presentation material based on fixed fee agreements.


Services include;

  • Comparative analysis of solar and related tech deployment NZ wide and by region
  • Pricing analysis of solar, storage and related tech
  • Solar building consent agreements for local bodies
  • Understanding and identifying business models, innovation and finance opportunities in the industry
  • Forecasts and modelling
  • Industry commentary, including media articles on market development
  • Applicable NZ standards
  • Energy culture and consumer behaviour and motivation analysis


SEANZ has a significant resource through its research, empirical analysis and work with industry, government and stakeholders forecasting, planning, current regulations, barriers and an annual commentary.

Contact Us to discuss your requirements

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