Te Pāti Māori proposes $1 billion energy sovereignty fund
Wednesday 16 September 2026 · 2 outlets · 2 reports · updated In this story Te Pāti Māori, Rawiri Waititi, Debbie Ngarewa-Packer
Te Pāti Māori has announced an energy policy featuring a $1 billion fund designed to increase Māori and community ownership of energy assets. The party intends to use the fund to boost community ownership of renewable energy infrastructure and develop productive energy assets.
Key facts
5 facts
- Te Pāti Māori proposes a $1 billion energy sovereignty fund
- The goal is to achieve energy sovereignty by 2035
- The fund will use grants, equity investment, and co-investment to enable ownership
- A government-backed loan scheme will support solar, batteries, and EV charging
- The policy aims to reduce dependency on fossil fuels
The full story
1 min read · 2 outlets
Te Pāti Māori has announced an energy policy featuring a $1 billion sovereignty fund. The fund aims to increase Māori and community ownership of renewable energy infrastructure. The party intends to use this capital to build productive energy assets.
The party seeks to achieve energy sovereignty by 2035 through a transition focused on affordability, capability, ownership, and control. This policy aims to lower power costs for whānau and reduce New Zealand's dependency on fossil fuels.
To support this, a government-backed loan scheme will provide long-term, low-cost finance for homeowners, marae, and community energy projects. This mechanism will be delivered through an expanded Ratepayer Assistance Scheme.
The party also intends to strengthen the powers of the Commerce Commission and Electricity Authority to investigate excessive profits and pricing. They aim to ensure regulators can intervene structurally if regulation fails to deliver fair prices and consumer protection.
Where reports differ
- One report identifies Rawiri Waititi as a co-leader, while another identifies Chino Barrett-Lovie.
Compiled from reports by NZ Herald and Stuff.