In an absorbing presentation, Margaret Cooney outlined the technology-driven approach that Octopus Energy brings to the New Zealand’s electricity market using smart tariffs, data platforms and flexible pricing to help customers reduce costs and shift electricity use to off-peak times. Click on the post for more details.

The New Zealand Hydrogen Council was formed in September 2018 by private and public sector organisations with seed funding from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment to support the progression and uptake of low emission hydrogen in New Zealand. They are New Zealand’s leading hydrogen agency. They are an intrinsic part of New Zealand’s emerging hydrogen industry as well as an important link to the opportunities that are evolving globally.

ElaraGrid delivers market-leading energy management solutions to commercial and industrial clients across New Zealand, Australia, and the Pacific Islands. Serving a diverse range of sectors — including manufacturing, wood and fibre processing, cold storage, ports, and large-scale facilities including education, health, and retail campuses — ElaraGrid brings deep expertise to the complex energy challenges facing modern industry.

OpenStar Technologies is pioneering the development of the levitated dipole concept, a simplified fusion energy approach proven viable in under two years for less than $10M. OpenStar combines rapid iteration, strategic partnerships, and a commitment to public engagement to accelerate clean fusion energy to the grid.

Ask Me NZ is an independently run platform that connects New Zealand and Japan through Business, Community and Rugby. In an era where AI can generate answers instantly, I believe that human connection, context, and trust matter more than ever. That is why Ask Me NZ aims to go beyond “information sharing” and become a place where meaningful relationships and opportunities can naturally grow. 

This year’s JNZBC Annual Joint Conference will be moved from 15/17 November to 1/3 November 2026 to avoid any potential that some of our members might not have been able to attend if required to stay close to Wellington following the NZ General Election.
New dates – Sunday 1 to Tuesday 3 November
Location – Sendai (approximately 2-hour Shinkansen journey from Tokyo)

Hear Shamubeel Eaqub on NZ’s outlook, AIP capital strategy, and how aligned investment and philanthropy drive real impact.

Join respected NZ economist Shamubeel Eaqub for clear, forward‑looking insights on what lies ahead for New Zealand’s economy and what it means for migrant investment.

Gain practical perspectives from an expert panel on how AIP pathways and aligned capital can be directed across the ecosystem for maximum impact.

Hear first‑hand how strategic philanthropy is transforming outcomes for young people across Aotearoa.

The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) is one of the New Zealand Government’s largest agencies. We play a central role in shaping and delivering a strong economy by delivering policy, services, advice and regulation to support business growth. Everything we do at MBIE is about growing New Zealand for all. We work to: build trusted, competitive and effectively regulated markets; ensure that businesses have access to the skills they need and that current and future demand for skills is met; ensure safe and fair workplaces; develop and support high-performing science and innovation; lift firms’ capability — including ideas, access to capital and relationships — so that they can succeed internationally; support the development of efficient infrastructure; enhance the value of NZ's natural resources; and lead work to improve housing affordability, and provide employment, residential tenancy, and unit titles dispute resolution services.

Several of the conference presenters have allowed their presentations to be available.
PS1.1 - NZPECC - Allan Bollard
PS2.4 - Green Collar - Shin Koizumi
PS2.6 - Wholesum Japan - Don Roxburgh
PS4.3 - Ara Ake - Jonathan Young
PS5.1 - Invest New Zealand - Hayden Mackenzie
PS5.2 - National Infrastructure Finance and Funding Commission - Graham Mitchell
PS5.3 - Infrastructure Commission - Peter Nunns
PS6.3 - Space Operations New Zealand - Robyn McNeill

Optimus Group provides end-to-end automotive services: they source, import/export, ship and deliver vehicles; handle inspection, quarantine, compliance and logistics; offer retail and wholesale vehicle financing; and manage vehicle retailing, distribution, and post-sale servicing. Martin McCullough is a director and Head of Logistics at Optimus Group (since June 2015). He also serves as a director of Dolphin Shipping New Zealand Ltd. (from 2012) and Fasttrack Automotive Compliance 2006 Ltd. (from 2016), which are part of Optimus’s wider logistics and compliance operations.

Foresta NZ Ltd is an innovative resource, energy and biotechnology sector company positioning itself to become a leading global supplier of natural and renewable pine chemicals and torrefied wood pellets which are a drop-in coal replacement. Foresta is in the process of establishing its first plant in New Zealand, which will use proprietary technology to extract natural pine chemicals, where they displace the need for petroleum-based chemicals and manufacture torrefied “black” wood pellets that can be used as a substitute for coal in commercial and industrial uses, including electricity generation.

Take a look at some of the photos from the recent conference.

https://www.jnzbc.com/2025-conference-photos

Overall, exports from New Zealand to Japan grew strongly in the first half of 2025, up 5.3% on an annual basis for the year ending June 2025. Dairy, horticulture, and food and beverages exports grew while aluminium, meat and forestry exports declined. Imports from Japan saw a significant decline, mainly in automobiles and oil (diesel). This helped push New Zealand into a trade surplus with Japan for the first time since 2021. Services trade continues to recover but remains below pre-pandemic levels due to the slow recovery of overall outbound tourism from Japan.

With the Takaichi administration term only recently having assumed office it is too early to assess the economic impact of the new administration. The Nikkei Stock Market reacted positively to Prime Minister Takaichi’s inauguration, reaching record highs.

Click here for the full report.

Click here to read the Joint Statement.

Beca is one of Asia Pacific’s largest independent advisory, design and engineering consultancies. After a century of operation, the company has grown from a family-owned business to become one of the most progressive, client-centric professional services consultancies in the Asia Pacific region. With more than 4,000 employees in 24 offices around the world Beca has delivered projects in more than 70 countries. https://www.beca.com/
Beca welcomed JNZBC members to a tour of its new global headquarters in the Innovation Precinct, Wynyard Quarter. Dr David Carter and a number of the company's leaders spoke about Beca's work in Primary Industry, Renewable Energy, Maori Business, and the Aerospace sector.

Carbona is a project enabler that uses proven technology solutions from its Austrian parent company, Polytechnik, to transform biomass into a renewable energy source. Carbona provides processing solutions to produce torrefied biomass as a 'drop-in' fuel, seamlessly replacing coal in boiler plants and carbonised products like biocoal and biochar for carbon capture, soil improvement, animal health, filtration, cement and steelmaking. Carbona’s full-service offering covers all phases of a torrefaction or carbonisation project, from feasibility studies to identify the best biomass residue and ensuring sustainability. We customise processing solutions for optimal conversion and compliance, and strategically design the facilities’ logistics for efficiency and the lowest environmental impact.

Murray Sturgeon is set to retire at the end of September 2025, concluding a long and respected career in the forestry and wood processing industries. Read the full story.

With over 25 years of dedicated presence in New Zealand, Yokogawa has been a trusted partner in advancing the nation’s industrial landscape. Through world-class process control instrumentation, engineering excellence, and responsive service, we have helped shape the quality, safety, and sustainability of critical infrastructure across water, food, energy, and minerals sectors.

Tatsumi NZ is revolutionising strawberry farming in Clive, Hawke’s Bay, with its cutting-edge facility, enabling year-round production and export to Japan. With an expansive above-ground growing space and an impressive 150-tonne annual output, Tatsumi NZ is set to redefine success in the industry.

Eastland Generation is an experienced developer, acquirer and operator of renewable energy plants. Our diverse portfolio includes three geothermal plants in the Bay of Plenty with a fourth under construction; a hydro-electric station in Hawkes Bay; and a solar facility in Tairāwhiti. Eastland Generation is co-owned by Eastland Group and Obayashi Corporation. The partnership with Obayashi Corporation strengthens Eastland Generation’s financial and technical capabilities. It enables us to share expertise, accelerate innovation and continue to expand our portfolio, while maintaining our strong community and partnership model. Together, we are actively exploring additional renewable energy development projects. We are proud to be helping drive transformative change in the energy sector and contributing to New Zealand’s carbon reduction targets.