New Zealand Hydrogen Hui 2026

Wednesday 12 August 2026 | Ōtautahi Christchurch

9:00am – 10:00am | Coffee, Registration & Networking

Opening Keynote Addresses

10:00am

Mihi Whakatau

Professor Te Maire Tau – Pou Whakarae, Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha, University of Canterbury

10:10am

Welcome

Dr. Linda Wright – CEO, New Zealand Hydrogen Council

10:15am

New Zealand Government

Hon Shane Jones

Minister for Oceans and Fisheries | Minister for Regional Development | Minister for Resources | Associate Minister of Finance | Associate Minister for Energy

10:25am

Industry Keynote

Scott O'Donnell – Director, H.W. Richardson Group

International Progress & Perspectives

10:35am

Japan

His Excellency Ambassador Makoto Osawa, Japanese Ambassador to New Zealand

10:50am

European Union

Being confirmed

11:05am

Korea

Being confirmed

11:20am

Singapore

Being confirmed

11:35am

China

Being confirmed

11:45am – 12:45pm | Lunch & Networking

New Zealand Progress & Perspectives

12:45pm

The challenges and opportunities of New Zealand's existing energy system and the critical role for hydrogen in a resilient energy system

Stephen Canny MNZM – Business and Strategic Projects Group Manager, Great South

1:00pm

Launch of the New Zealand Hydrogen Industry Road Map

Fireside chat with multiple industry stakeholders: Obayashi Corporation, TR Group, Fabrum, Toyota NZ, Tuaropaki Trust

1:30pm

Critical next steps to grow meaningful hydrogen scale across multiple sectors

Delivery Programme for Years 1–3 of the Hydrogen Industry Road Map

1:45pm

New Zealand's hydrogen policy landscape

Nic Blakely – CEO, Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment

2:00pm

What does Industry Government Iwi partnership look like for the hydrogen sector? Lessons learned from the New Zealand Space Industry.

Robin McNeill MNZM – CEO, Aerospace New Zealand / Space Operations New Zealand: A successful example of Industry, Government and Iwi working together to grow a New Zealand industry that now has global relevance.

2:15pm – 2:45pm | Afternoon Tea & Networking

Natural Geological Hydrogen

Is natural hydrogen a significant opportunity for Aotearoa New Zealand?

2:45pm

National hydrogen research and drilling programme proposal

Professor Ian Wright – Principal Researcher, School of Earth & Environment Sciences, University of Canterbury

3:00pm

New Zealand subsurface technology exported to the world

Graham Grant – CEO, Seequent

3:15pm

Emerging technology creating industrial scale hydrogen opportunity

Mark Chadderton – CEO, Aspiring Materials

3:30pm

An enabling regulatory framework for natural hydrogen industry development

Lena MacCarthy – Manager, Resource Policy, MBIE

3:45pm

Natural hydrogen demand potential and industry partners perspectives

Malcolm Johns – CEO, Genesis Energy
Ben Gerritsen – GM Customer and Regulatory, Clarus
More to come

4:15pm

Hydrogen Hui Summary

James Palmer – CEO, Earth Sciences New Zealand

4:30pm

Closing Remarks

Dr. Linda Wright – CEO, New Zealand Hydrogen Council