Hawke’s Bay CEOs Call For Action On Energy

Hawke’s Bay CEOs have identified energy as their top concern, prompting a summit in June to bring industry players together.

The Hawke’s Bay Energy Summit, organised by the Hawke’s Bay Chamber of Commerce, will bring together businesses, energy providers and industry bodies to help organisations understand changes in the sector and what they mean in practice.

The summit has been developed in response to feedback from the Chamber’s Leaders Circle, an invitation-only forum connecting CEOs and senior executives from across the region.

At the group’s inaugural event at Rosewood Cape Kidnappers in October 2025, a survey of attendees identified energy as the standout concern, alongside workforce, water and skills.

Leaders pointed not only to supply challenges, but also to the cost and uncertainty of transitioning to more sustainable energy sources, including concerns about the reliability of solar and backup grid supply.

Hawke’s Bay Chamber of Commerce Chief Executive Karla Lee says the feedback made the need for a regional conversation clear.

“What came through clearly from our Leaders Circle is that energy is front of mind for Hawke’s Bay businesses. The cost, the risk, and the uncertainty are real, and leaders are looking for clarity on what comes next. That’s exactly why we’re bringing the Energy Summit to the region.”

The summit will bring together key players from across the energy sector, alongside local businesses, to explore both immediate and longer-term responses. This includes short-term steps such as improving energy efficiency and making better use of existing resources, as well as longer-term options including solar, bioenergy and broader infrastructure changes.

Discussions are underway with organisations including Unison, Transpower, EECA and Centralines, with businesses also expected to share case studies from their own energy journeys.

Karla says the event is intended as the starting point for a wider conversation, with the longer-term goal of developing a regional energy strategy.

The Leaders Circle was established to meet demand for a CEO-level forum in Hawke’s Bay, providing a high-trust environment for open discussion on complex and often sensitive issues.

The most recent Leaders Circle event, held at Napier Port in March, included a presentation from Chief Executive Todd Dawson, who shared insights into the port’s operations, strategy and future development.

The session also included a port tour and provided an opportunity for leaders to connect directly with major regional infrastructure and projects.

Karla says the Leaders Circle reflects the strength of leadership across Hawke’s Bay’s business community.

“Hawke’s Bay has strong leadership across our business community. The Leaders Circle creates a space to connect that leadership, align on priorities, and focus on what will have the biggest impact for our region.”

The Leaders Circle will continue as a regular forum, with future topics shaped by the priorities of Hawke’s Bay businesses.

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