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

10:15am

Welcome

Dr. Linda Wright - CEO, New Zealand Hydrogen Council

10:20am

New Zealand Government

Hon Shane Jones - Minister for Resources

10:35am

Industry Keynote

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

International Progress & Perspectives
10:50am

Japan

His Excellency Ambassador Makoto Osawa - Japanese Ambassador to New Zealand

11:05am

European Union

Zuzanna Bienuik - Charge d'Affaires, Delegation of the European Union to New Zealand

11:20am

Korea

Gavin Young - Hydrogen Mobility Lead, Hyundai New Zealand

11:35am

China

Xiaoyu Ma - International Business Division Sales Manager, Hydrosys (Beijing) Technology Co.,Ltd

11:50am

Summary of international hydrogen progress & perspectives

Dr. Linda Wright - Chief Executive, New Zealand Hydrogen Council

12:00pm – 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 the transition to resiliency

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

1:00pm

Launch of the New Zealand Hydrogen Industry Road Map and critical next steps to grow meaningful hydrogen scale across multiple sectors

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

1:30pm

A technologist and venture investor perspective to developing hydrogen scale in New Zealand

Dr. Jez Weston, Director at CullBeck & Co Founder of Climate Venture Capital Fund

1:45pm

New Zealand's hydrogen policy landscape

Nic Blakeley - 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 NZ 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

Angela Ogier - GM Fuels Strategy, Genesis Energy
Ben Gerritsen - GM Customer and Regulatory, Clarus
Andrew Clennett - CEO & Founder, Hiringa Energy
Gareth Wishart - GM Technology & Innovation, H.W. Richardson Group

4:15pm

Hydrogen Hui Summary

James Palmer - CEO, Earth Sciences New Zealand

4:30pm

Closing Remarks

Dr. Linda Wright - CEO, New Zealand Hydrogen Council