SEANZ Best Community Project
The Best Community Energy Project must contribute to the social fabric of a community, enriching its people and inhabitants’ lives using renewable energy. It must have helped the local community & improved their way of life with measurable and meaningful outcomes.
Winner: The Lines Company with Te Nehenehenui
The collaborative project between The Lines Company and Te Nehenehenui aimed to provide renewable solar energy that let marae share excess solar power with others in their community who were facing energy hardship. The initiative, co-designed with kaupapa Māori principles, provided solutions that are environmentally respectful and community-owned.
What the judges liked:
- “This project will deliver tangible benefits to the community in reduced energy costs, improved health and wellbeing, energy education and awareness”
- “Great to see an EDB involved in developing projects like this”
- “The values-led approach through kaitiakitanga, whanaungatanga, and kotahitanga provide an example of how to engage any community”
Find out more about The Lines Company
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Runner up: Tū Mai Rā Energy with Te Runanga o Ngāti Hine
Tū Mai Rā were engaged by Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Hine to address energy hardship within their community. The project delivered four large installations of solar panels and batteries on four Marae ensuring the Marae can run off grid and creating a platform so excess power can be shared. Up to 200 whānau will benefit, encouraging warmer homes with lower costs.
What the judges liked:
- “Having a platform that allows marae to provide power bill credits to whānau in need is unique”
- “The use of local labour for parts of the installation, creating jobs and fostering a sense of ownership within the community make this worth of recognition”
- “The collaborative nature of the project centered on community engagement ensured the project was shaped by the community’s needs and values”
Find out more about Tū Mai Rā Energy
