GasNZ Forum 2026: Gas Matters
16-18 September 2026, Wellington
Scroll down to view recordings and slide decks from this year’s GasNZ Forum presentations.
Held every two years, New Zealand’s only dedicated gas sector conference brought together more than 100 of the sector’s key decision-makers, influencers, experts, and suppliers to share strategic insights and sector developments.
As well as the current state of the industry, this year’s GasNZ Forum explored how decisions on natural gas, LPG, renewable gas, and LNG will shape New Zealand’s energy security and future prosperity, and what it will all mean for the sector. With it being election year, we also hosted the New Zealand Energy Future Debate, alongside Business NZ and Stuff, where spokespeople from the main parties discussed the best policies for our
Thanks so much to the generous sponsors and exhibitors that came on board to support the forum - we couldn’t have had such a successful event without you. Our Principal sponsor was Linde (Elgas & BOC), our Gold sponsors were Clarus and Powerco, and our Silver sponsors were Verbrec and EECA.
The full programme of the GasNZ Forum 2026 is set out below. Click the links to view the presentations.
The New Zealand Energy Future Debate
Just seven weeks out from Election 2026, our political leaders take the stage to debate the best energy policies for New Zealand’s future:
Hon Simeon Brown MP - Minister of Energy, National Party
Hon. Dr Megan Woods MP - Spokesperson for Energy & Resources, Labour Party
Simon Court MP - Spokesperson for Energy & Resources, Act Party
Scott Willis MP - Spokesperson for Energy & Resources, Green Party
Qiulae Wong - Leader, Opportunity Party
Martin Gummer - Candidate, NZ First Party
Debate Moderator: Lloyd Burr - Head of News, Stuff
DAY ONE
New Zealand’s Approach to Its Energy Future
WELCOME
Welcome: Don Elers – GasNZ Chair
Principal Sponsor’s welcome: Cory Spence – Director, Linde - New Zealand & Pacific Islands
Ministerial Address: Hon. Simeon Brown – Minister of Energy
THE ENERGY BENEATH THE ECONOMY – SYSTEMS THINKING FOR NEW ZEALAND’S ENERGY
This keynote explores why systems thinking is essential to understanding the relationship between energy and economic development, and why the choices New Zealand makes today will determine not only how we power our economy, but what kind of economy we are able to build.
Larry Blair – LBC Project Management & Consultancy, and author of New Zealand Energy Substack
PANEL DISCUSSION – PLANNING A NEW ZEALAND ENERGY FUTURE
Our panel explores the theme of our keynote, considering what an energy strategy for New Zealand would need to do, how we might get there, and what else would be needed to take control of our energy future.
Paul Goodeve – CEO, Clarus Group
Larry Blair – LBC Project Management & Consultancy
Ramu Naidoo – Head of Security of Supply & Forecasting, Transpower
Facilitator: Jen Nolan – Director, At Large
Gas Markets Update
NATURAL GAS, LNG, AND BIOMETHANE
Examines what we know about the current supply and demand situation for natural gas, biomethane and LNG, likely inflection points over coming months, and long-term market drivers.
Alan Young – Director, Enerlytica
PANEL DISCUSSION – PERSPECTIVES ON OUR NATURAL GAS PRODUCTION FUTURE
Estimates of New Zealand’s proved, probable, and possible natural gas resources have changed dramatically over the past couple of years, triggering significant shifts in New Zealand’s energy markets. Hear directly from the market participants on their view of likely domestic production of both natural gas and biomethane resources over coming years.
Dave Darby – Engagement & Regulatory Affairs, OMV New Zealand
Justin Post – Chief Operating Officer, New Zealand Energy Corporation
Matt Verry – Commercial Lead, Wholesale and Trading, Nova
Don Elers – General Manager Gas, Powerco
Facilitator: Andy Bedford – General Manager, Ecogas
LPG SUPPLY AND MARKET
LPG demand is high and customer numbers are strong. What does the current market balance look like? Will LPG supply be affected by domestic gas field declines? Liquigas, New Zealand’s main LPG logistics provider, and Elgas/Linde, a major LPG wholesaler, examine the current and future LPG markets.
Christo Janse van Rensburg – CEO, Liquigas
Cory Spence – Director, Linde - New Zealand & Pacific Islands
INDUSTRIAL GAS – AN ESSENTIAL ENABLER OF NEW ZEALAND’S ENERGY FUTURE
Dig into the important, but under-appreciated role that industrial gases play in New Zealand’s overall energy mix.
Aneesh Shinde – Business Manager – Engineering, Linde
Managing the Changing Role of Gas
AN LNG IMPORT FACILITY FOR NEW ZEALAND
The Government has promised an LNG import facility for New Zealand. Technically and commercially, what would be involved? What is feasible? What will the regulatory regime be? What might the impact be on our energy markets?
Alan Young – Director, Enerlytica
YouTube & Presentation (links to come)
PANEL DISCUSSION – IF NOT LNG, THEN WHAT?
The proposal to import LNG is surrounded by conflicting studies. Proponents describe it as prudent insurance; detractors decry it as foolish and irresponsible. Our panel of experts seek to distil fact from fiction, and legitimate uncertainty from misinformation.
Alan Young – Director, Enerlytica
John Pagani – Pagani Associates
David Reeve – Director, Sapere
Facilitator: Karen Boyes – Executive Director, Major Electricity Users' Group
FUTURE CHALLENGES AS NATURAL GAS DECLINES: Gas Industry Company focus areas
An update on the Gas Industry Company’s work programme, which has three elements focussing on natural gas decline and its impacts:
Future of Gas Infrastructure: cost recovery for natural gas transmission and distribution infrastructure
Tim Kerr – Principal Adviser
Future Gas Availability: impacts for commercial and industrial gas users
Chris Kilby – Principal Adviser
Evolving Gas Governance Arrangements for Future Fuels
Andrew Walker – Principal Adviser
THE DIVERSE CONTRIBUTION OF GAS TO OUR ECONOMY
Businesses discuss their current gas use and their strategies to manage their future energy needs:
Fonterra: Jack Ballagh – Senior Energy Engineer (Presentation)
Evonik Peroxide: Brennan Chappell – Site Manager (Presentation)
NZ Association of Bakers: John Cockburn – President (Presentation)
Tāwhaki: John Holt – Chief Executive (Acting) (Presentation)
Facilitator: Mo Ehsan – National Sales Manager, Linde New Zealand
DAY ONE ROUND-UP
Jeffrey Clarke – Chief Executive, GasNZ
DAY TWO
Running on New Zealand-Made Energy
WELCOME
Welcome: Don Elers – GasNZ Chair
Gold Sponsors’ welcome: Paul Goodeve – CEO, Clarus Group and Jason Franklin – CEO, Powerco
ELECTRIFYING HOMES AND VEHICLES
Mike Casey, the ubiquitous head of Rewiring Aotearoa, presents the “why” and the “how” of Rewiring Aotearoa’s recent report: Electric Homes and Vehicles: a vision of a transformed economy, where all residential gas users transition onto rooftop solar, battery, and electric vehicles.
Mike Casey – Chief Executive, Rewiring Aotearoa
PANEL DISCUSSION – SHOULD NEW ZEALAND BE ENCOURAGING RESIDENTIAL GAS USERS TO SWITCH?
What would a mass conversion of residential gas users to solar electricity mean for our overall energy infrastructure, and consumer costs? Should New Zealand be actively encouraging some consumers to “go solar”?
Mike Casey – Chief Executive, Rewiring Aotearoa
Larry Blair – LBC Project Management & Consultancy and author of New Zealand Energy substack
Andreas Heuser – Partner, Heuser|Whittington (Presentation)
Facilitator: Ben Gerritsen – General Manager Customer & Regulatory, Clarus
Biogas and Biomethane
EXPERIENCE WITH BIOGAS AND BIOGAS UPGRADING
The Ecogas Story: the pros and cons of upgrading: Andy Bedford – General Manager, Ecogas (Presentation)
The Aussie experience: biogas vs biomethane: Richard Bartlett, BioGrid (Presentation)
Biomethane: Biogas upgrading for pipeline injection: Tim Ussher – Future Fuels Engineer, Clarus (Presentation)
Landfills: Why they upgrade or not. What could change this? Reuben Cairns-Morrison, General Manager Strategy & Growth, EnviroNZ (Presentation)
Facilitator: Erik Vandenberg – General Manager - Growth & Energy Transition, Verbrec (Presentation)
IMPLEMENTING THE BIOMETHANE STRATEGY AND ACTION PLAN
GasNZ’s Biomethane Strategy and Action Plan defines clear, achievable targets for New Zealand’s biomethane production, and sets out the actions for policy and other interventions to achieve those targets.
Chase Hancock – Principal Policy Advisor, GasNZ
Industry Perspectives
POWERCO NETWORK INITIATIVES
Network Vulnerability Assessment: Hear about Powerco’s assessment of customer connections and trends. Are some gas networks at risk or vulnerable? How should those risks be addressed?
Caitlin Tromop van Dalen – Network Reliability Engineer – Gas, Powerco (Presentation)
SELMA leak detection vehicle: Efficiencies and benefits of deploying mobile laser technology for methane leak detection on the Powerco network.
Xavier Hey – Program & Process Performance Manager, Powerco (Presentation)
GAS USERS AND THE FUTURE OF GAS
The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA) presents a demand-side perspective of what the gas sector should be thinking about: who, where and what are the challenges and opportunities for gas users in the future?
Paul Bull – Manager, Regional & Sector Partnerships, Energy Efficiency & Conservation Authority
LET YOUR WORKERS SURPRISE YOU
Sometimes, it requires real commitment to help workers to overcome challenges and grow. But the rewards and outcomes can be well worth the investment. Stuart Price, Chair of GasNZ’s Gas Training Committee, shares some workplace experiences.
Stuart Price – Business Development Manager, Omexom
THE ENERGY AND INFRASTRUCTURE SKILLS BOARD
Sheree will provide an update on the Energy and Infrastructure Industry Skills Board, highlighting new vocational education initiatives, workforce development priorities, and opportunities to strengthen capability across New Zealand's energy industry.
Sheree Long – Energy & Extractives Portfolio Lead, Energy and Infrastructure Skills Board
THE BUCK STOPS WITH YOU
Some health and safety obligations cannot be delegated by directors and officers. What does this mean in your workplace? If you aren’t familiar with how these obligations were clarified in the Ports of Auckland decision, you need to pay attention to this session. Also covered are recent amendments to the HSWA that are of particular relevance to both contractors, and firms engaging contractors.
Stacey Shortall – Partner, MinterEllison
INSIGHTS INTO CONSUMERS AND GAS
Clarus has conducted detailed consumer sentiment surveys for six years. What to Kiwis really think about gas, and how has this evolved?
Richelle Ashman – Marketing & Communications Manager, Clarus
WORKSAFE’S OPERATIONAL APPROACH TO HIGH-HAZARD FACILITIES
An overview of WorkSafe’s risk-based inspection approach in relation to LPG installations, including the practical application of the legislation. Including the HSWA legislation amendments which allow for the development of industry led ACOP’s as a “safe harbour” and an alternative means to comply with the legislation.
Karen Davidson – Chief Inspector – High Hazards, WorkSafe
INSTALLATION COMPLIANCE AND BEST PRACTICE – 222KG INSTALLATIONS
GasNZ is preparing to release a new Code of Practice for single- and multi-cylinder 222 kg LPG installations. This session introduces the new Code of Practice and explores practical compliance and installation considerations.
The new Code of Practice for 222 kg LPG installations Lukas Erasmus – LPG Asset Manager, Genesis
Practical experiences, insights and concerns relating to 222 kg installations
A gasfitter’s perspective Sam Currie – Manager, Gas Engineering Services
Tales from a compliance certifier: be careful out there! Kevin Towart – LPG Safety South
The regulator’s perspective Karen Davidson – Chief Inspector – High Hazards, WorkSafe
Facilitator: Peter Gilbert – Former Exec Director of LPGA and GANZ
LPG FLEET AND TRANSPORT INNOVATIONS
Genesis' EROAD journey: delivering material improvements in driver performance, safety behaviours, and incident reduction Greg Price – LPG Logistics Manager, Genesis (Presentation)
EROAD showcases their product roadmap: how innovation and AI are shaping fleet safety and driver performance Matt Buckle – NZ Enterprise Sales Manager, EROAD
Lowes shares insights into the design and manufacture of their 5-tonne LPG bobtails, including the latest safety and operational innovations Andrew Cowan – Engineering and Technical Sales Manager, Lowes Industries (Presentation)
Facilitator: Neil Crookes – General Manager LPG Operations, Genesis
BUSINESS FUEL EFFICIENCY: CUTTING COSTS AND BUILDING RESILIENCE
How can businesses get more from every litre of fuel they use? EECA will explore practical opportunities to improve fuel efficiency across sites and vehicle fleets, helping businesses reduce operating costs, and strengthen resilience. EECA will also share a view on making the most of existing infrastructure and new fuel solutions to support gas users.
Richard Briggs – GM of Delivery and Partnerships, Energy Efficiency & Conservation Authority
WRAP UP AND FAREWELL
Jeffrey Clarke – Chief Executive, GasNZ