Activities

If you're new to home electrification and wondering what all the excitement is about, this is the perfect place to begin. The Start Here table is designed for visitors who have little or no background knowledge and simply want someone to explain the basics in plain English.

Friendly volunteers will introduce the key ideas behind home electrification, explain why many New Zealand households are making the switch from fossil fuels to electricity, and outline the technologies involved, including electric vehicles, heat pump water heating, solar panels, home batteries and induction cooking. They can also help you understand where the biggest savings often come from and suggest which parts of the expo are likely to be most relevant to your own situation.

Think of the Start Here table as your orientation point for the day. After a short conversation, you'll have a much clearer understanding of the electrification journey and a personalised roadmap for exploring the rest of the expo. Whether you're a homeowner, renter, landlord or simply curious, we're here to help you take the first step.

Sometimes the most valuable advice comes from people who have already been there. The Ask Me Anything Lounge is staffed by volunteers who have personally electrified their own homes and are happy to share their experiences with anyone considering making similar changes.

Whether you're thinking about installing solar panels, buying an electric vehicle, replacing a gas hot water system with a heat pump, installing a home battery, switching to induction cooking, or simply reducing your power bills, you'll find someone who has practical, real-world experience. They can explain what worked well, what surprised them, what they might do differently, and answer the questions you may not feel comfortable asking a salesperson.

There is no presentation schedule and no formal programme—just comfortable seating and friendly conversations. Drop in at any time, stay for five minutes or an hour, and leave with practical insights from people who have already made the journey toward an all-electric home.

The Family Fun Zone is a welcoming space where families can take a break from exploring the expo while still enjoying the experience together. Parents can relax for a few minutes with a coffee while children discover hands-on activities that introduce them to the world of clean energy, electricity and sustainability in a fun and engaging way. It's a place where everyone can recharge before heading back into the exhibition.

Throughout the day there will be a variety of activities designed for younger visitors, including colouring, puzzles, building challenges and interactive displays that encourage curiosity about how electricity powers our homes and communities. Many of the activities are designed to spark conversations between children and parents about the future of energy and the role they can play in it.

Whether you're visiting with toddlers, school-aged children or teenagers, the Family Fun Zone provides a relaxed environment that makes Electrify the Capital a great day out for the whole family. We believe the journey toward a more sustainable future belongs to every generation, and this space helps make that journey enjoyable for everyone.

Exploring the expo can work up an appetite, so be sure to visit the Coffee Corner for a well-earned break. Whether you're after a freshly brewed coffee, a cold drink, or something tasty to eat, you'll find a range of refreshments available throughout the day.

The Coffee Corner is also a great place to catch up with friends, continue conversations started elsewhere in the expo, or simply sit down and plan what you'd like to see next. With so much happening throughout the venue, taking a few minutes to relax can help you get even more from your visit.

Located conveniently within the exhibition space, the Coffee Corner provides an informal meeting place where visitors, exhibitors and volunteers can connect in a relaxed atmosphere before heading off to discover more of what Electrify the Capital has to offer.

Electrification is happening right across our region, driven not just by businesses and government but by people in their own communities. Electrify Local brings together local Electrify groups from the Hutt Valley, Porirua, Tawa, Ngaio & Crofton Downs, Kāpiti and Wairarapa. Drop by to meet the people behind these groups, discover what’s happening in your area, and find out about local events, activities and opportunities to get involved.

Whether you’re just starting to think about electrifying your home, already have solar, batteries, an EV or other electric technology, or simply want to help your community make the transition, your local group would love to meet you. Find your local Electrify group, join their network, share what you know — or find out how you can help get something started in your own neighbourhood.

Want to learn more about a particular technology or hear directly from industry experts? The Technical Talks programme offers a series of presentations throughout the day covering the products, services and innovations that are helping New Zealand households electrify their homes and reduce their energy costs.

Held in the upstairs foyer auditorium, these sessions allow exhibitors and invited speakers to explore topics in greater depth than is possible on the exhibition floor. Presentations may include solar panels, home batteries, electric vehicles, EV charging, heat pump water heating, induction cooking, smart home energy management, finance options and many other aspects of home electrification.

Whether you're just beginning your electrification journey or already well on the way, the Technical Talks provide an excellent opportunity to build your understanding, compare different approaches, and ask detailed technical questions in an informal setting. Sessions are free to attend, and visitors are welcome to come and go throughout the day.

Talk programme

Compare the Parties' Energy Policies

With New Zealand's general election approaching, what are the political parties proposing for our energy future? The Policy Plug at Electrify the Capital gives you an opportunity to explore and compare the energy and electrification policies of the parties contesting the election, all in one place.

Rather than having political representatives speaking at the Expo, the Policy Plug will feature a display of large-format posters outlining each party's key policies. These will cover topics such as renewable electricity generation, electricity prices and affordability, solar panels and batteries, electric vehicles, energy efficiency, electricity networks, and support for households and businesses to electrify.

Each political party has been invited to provide its own policy information or a poster for display. Where a party does not supply a poster, the Expo organisers will prepare one using the party's published policies. Our aim is to present the different approaches fairly, accurately and without political bias, making it easier for visitors to understand what each party is proposing.

Have your say! 

We're also planning a simple interactive activity where visitors can use stickers to highlight the individual policies they believe will best prepare an NZ 30 year cross party energy blueprint. This will provide a visual snapshot of the ideas that resonate with Expo visitors, regardless of which party is proposing them. It's an opportunity to think about the energy future you want for New Zealand and see how the different parties' policies will contribute to getting there.

We will pull each party’s energy policies and insert under the appropriate pillar (as below) for visitors to endorse. This keeps this strategy development a little less political. 

⚡ Pillars Using The Rewiring Aotearoa Approach (Bottom-Up / Consumer-Led)

1. Household & Commercial Electrification ("Swapping Machines"): Replacing petrol cars, gas water heaters, space heating, and fossil boilers with electric alternatives.
2. Distributed Generation & Local Storage: Installing rooftop solar and battery storage on homes, farms, and businesses to generate power at the point of use.
3. Accessible Financing & Energy Equity: Removing upfront cost barriers via low-interest loans, grants, and renter programs so energy savings offset capital costs from day one.
4. Modernized Distribution Grids (EDBs): Updating local lines rules for dynamic two-way power flows, fair solar export tariffs, and local battery integration.
5. Utility Generation & Backstop Grid: Scaling up large-scale wind, geothermal, and utility solar to fill remaining winter energy peaks and power heavy industry.

The Policy Plug is a non-partisan activity. Electrify the Capital does not endorse any political party or candidate.

Every advance registration to Electrify the Capital comes with a little extra thank you. 

Register through Humanitix before the expo and you'll automatically be eligible for our Registration Rewards prize draw, giving you the chance to collect one of a range of great prizes when you arrive at the expo.

Prior to the expo, we'll randomly select a number of Humanitix booking codes, which will be on display at the entrance. If your booking code is one of the lucky winners, simply visit the Registration Rewards desk when you arrive at the expo to claim your prize. There is no separate competition to enter – your Humanitix registration is your entry.

It's our way of saying thank you for registering in advance and helping us plan for the day. So be sure to secure your free ticket before registrations close, keep a copy of your Humanitix booking confirmation, and check the winning booking codes when you arrive at the expo. You could walk away with something extra while enjoying everything Electrify the Capital has to offer!

You can register for free at Humanitix here: https://events.humanitix.com/electrifythecapital