Latest news with #ElectrifyQueenstown
Scoop
10-06-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Electrify Queenstown To Return In 2026
Press Release – Destination Queenstown Now a cornerstone event in Queenstowns calendar, Electrify Queenstown will take place from 17 19 May 2026, bringing together industry leaders, innovators, politicians and policymakers to share practical, cost-effective ways for businesses and households … Queenstown, New Zealand (10 June 2025) – Electrify Queenstown will return for a third year, following the huge success of the 2025 event which built strong momentum across the region. Now a cornerstone event in Queenstown's calendar, Electrify Queenstown will take place from 17 – 19 May 2026, bringing together industry leaders, innovators, politicians and policymakers to share practical, cost-effective ways for businesses and households to electrify. Mat Woods, Chief Executive of Destination Queenstown and Lake Wānaka Tourism, says Electrify Queenstown is an event designed to turn ideas into action. 'The energy this year was incredible with hundreds of people turning up to explore new and emerging technologies and future-focused solutions that not only save you money, but are good for the environment too.' he said. Attendees this year included local residents, visitors from around New Zealand, business owners, and change makers all eager to share the opportunities and challenges involved in a low-emissions future. The event featured bold announcements including plans for a low-emissions urban cable car network in Queenstown, the debut of new electric marine propulsion technology on Lake Whakatipu, and the release of Rewiring Aotearoa's policy manifesto. Mike Casey, CEO of Rewiring Aotearoa, says there's an exciting opportunity for New Zealand to lead the global energy transition, and events like Electrify Queenstown are helping educate kiwis about what's possible. 'Aotearoa New Zealand is one of the few countries that has reached the electrification tipping point where it's cheaper to electrify than use the fossil fuel alternative. 'Whether you're in it for the cost savings, lowering emissions, or energy security, we all win by going electric.' Mike said. Electrify Queenstown is proving to be a valuable platform for businesses and innovators to showcase energy-efficient solutions for homes and enterprises. Sharon Fifield, CEO of Queenstown Business Chamber of Commerce, says it's inspiring to see the momentum that's been built since the inaugural one-day event in 2024. 'Businesses are seeing the economic value of electrification alongside the environmental benefits, and there's genuine enthusiasm to get involved and make a difference.' Sharon said. With strong interest from locals eager to lower their bills, become more energy efficient and resilient, organisers say Electrify Queenstown 2026 will again cater to everyone with even more opportunities for collaboration and innovation. 'Each year, more people are seeing what's possible through electrification and it's exciting to think about what 2026 will bring.' Mat added. Electrify Queenstown 2026 will take place at the Queenstown Events Centre, Sunday 17 May – Tuesday 19 May 2026. The event supports Queenstown Lakes' destination management plan and the broader goal of regenerative tourism and a carbon-zero visitor economy by 2030.
Scoop
10-06-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Electrify Queenstown To Return In 2026
Queenstown, New Zealand (10 June 2025) – Electrify Queenstown will return for a third year, following the huge success of the 2025 event which built strong momentum across the region. Now a cornerstone event in Queenstown's calendar, Electrify Queenstown will take place from 17 – 19 May 2026, bringing together industry leaders, innovators, politicians and policymakers to share practical, cost-effective ways for businesses and households to electrify. Mat Woods, Chief Executive of Destination Queenstown and Lake Wānaka Tourism, says Electrify Queenstown is an event designed to turn ideas into action. 'The energy this year was incredible with hundreds of people turning up to explore new and emerging technologies and future-focused solutions that not only save you money, but are good for the environment too.' he said. Attendees this year included local residents, visitors from around New Zealand, business owners, and change makers all eager to share the opportunities and challenges involved in a low-emissions future. The event featured bold announcements including plans for a low-emissions urban cable car network in Queenstown, the debut of new electric marine propulsion technology on Lake Whakatipu, and the release of Rewiring Aotearoa's policy manifesto. Mike Casey, CEO of Rewiring Aotearoa, says there's an exciting opportunity for New Zealand to lead the global energy transition, and events like Electrify Queenstown are helping educate kiwis about what's possible. 'Aotearoa New Zealand is one of the few countries that has reached the electrification tipping point where it's cheaper to electrify than use the fossil fuel alternative. 'Whether you're in it for the cost savings, lowering emissions, or energy security, we all win by going electric.' Mike said. Electrify Queenstown is proving to be a valuable platform for businesses and innovators to showcase energy-efficient solutions for homes and enterprises. Sharon Fifield, CEO of Queenstown Business Chamber of Commerce, says it's inspiring to see the momentum that's been built since the inaugural one-day event in 2024. 'Businesses are seeing the economic value of electrification alongside the environmental benefits, and there's genuine enthusiasm to get involved and make a difference.' Sharon said. With strong interest from locals eager to lower their bills, become more energy efficient and resilient, organisers say Electrify Queenstown 2026 will again cater to everyone with even more opportunities for collaboration and innovation. 'Each year, more people are seeing what's possible through electrification and it's exciting to think about what 2026 will bring." Mat added. Electrify Queenstown 2026 will take place at the Queenstown Events Centre, Sunday 17 May - Tuesday 19 May 2026. The event supports Queenstown Lakes' destination management plan and the broader goal of regenerative tourism and a carbon-zero visitor economy by 2030.
Otago Daily Times
30-05-2025
- Automotive
- Otago Daily Times
Congestion-busting contenders
Doppelmayr NZ's Garreth Hayman. PHOTO: PHILIP CHANDLER Two fully electric aerial transportation system providers pitched themselves as solutions to Queenstown's chronic traffic congestion problems at this week's Electrify Queenstown event. They're Queenstown Cable Car, which could ferry up to 3000 passengers an hour, in both directions, between the CBD and the airport via Queenstown Hill and Frankton. The other's Whoosh's 'Uber in the sky' which is about to be demo-ed at Remarkables Park. Doppelmayr NZ CEO Garreth Hayman, who's working with local tech entrepreneur Rod Drury and former Infrastructure Commission chief executive Ross Copland, says "the big difference is we are a mass transit solution versus they are an equivalent of an Uber, if you like, in terms of calling up a taxi". "They will probably feed into the gondola system, it would make sense for them to do that, and it's just like the [public] bus [network] is feeding into the system well." However, Whoosh chief executive Dr Chris Allington tells Scene their system has many advantages over a gondola system. It could disperse its users across a greater number of smaller stations, avoiding likely queues at peak times with the gondola system's fewer, larger stations, he says. Its modular system allowed it to be expanded as demand required. "You're no longer stuck with straight lines and a limited number of stops."
Otago Daily Times
27-05-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
'Uber in the sky' demo on way in Queenstown
Christchurch company Whoosh will start building a 2km demo of its "Uber in the sky" transportation system in Queenstown's Remarkables Park within weeks. Whoosh chief executive Dr Chris Allington said it would begin operating as soon as the middle of next year, and more information would be released soon. "Within the next few weeks, we'll be cutting ribbons and starting to dig holes." He told an audience at the Electrify Queenstown trade show yesterday the on-demand system, which moves fully-electric, self-driving cabins around an elevated cable network, could solve the resort town's traffic congestion issues. The company unveiled a working prototype at its Christchurch base last September after six years of development. The demo system, which was being jointly funded by Whoosh and Remarkables Park Ltd, would have all its key features including cabins for four or five people, stations and an app. It would give residents the opportunity to experience it and provide feedback. "We'll then make it better, and hopefully we can work with the team and deliver something down here." The company had mapped out a 50-station network that linked the resort's town centre to Frankton and the eastern and southern suburbs. It already had projects under way in the United States and the first, in a 485ha park in the city of Irvine, California, was expected to be operating by the end of next year. It was also working on projects in Japan and the Middle East. Dr Allington said a Whoosh system had many advantages over a gondola system. It could disperse its users across a greater number of smaller stations, avoiding the queues likely at peak commuter times with a gondola system's fewer, larger stations. Its modular nature allowed it to be expanded as demand required. "You can form three-dimensional networks in your cities which fit in the existing urban spaces. "You're no longer stuck with straight lines and a limited number of stops." Whoosh was not the only mass transportation system being touted for Queenstown yesterday, which also featured a talk by Doppelmayr New Zealand chief executive Garreth Hayman. Doppelmayr NZ is working with tech entrepreneur Rod Drury and former Infrastructure Commission chief executive Ross Copland on a gondola system designed to move 3000 people an hour. The first stage, estimated to cost $250m, would run from the town centre up to a Queenstown Hill station, along to a Lake Johnson station, down to the Frankton bus hub, then on to the airport. Part of the Queenstown Lakes and Central Otago district councils' regional deal submission, the plan's backers hope to have it operating by late 2028. Dr Allington told the Otago Daily Times a gondola "solves one problem, but not every problem", and could co-exist with Whoosh. If a Whoosh system was wanted for Queenstown, his company would be "very happy" to build one. "If not, we've got plenty of projects to keep us busy."
Otago Daily Times
27-05-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Transport demo to take to skies
Christchurch company Whoosh will start building a 2km demo of its "Uber in the sky" transportation system in Queenstown's Remarkables Park within weeks. Whoosh chief executive Dr Chris Allington said it would begin operating as soon as the middle of next year, and more information would be released soon. "Within the next few weeks, we'll be cutting ribbons and starting to dig holes." He told an audience at the Electrify Queenstown trade show yesterday the on-demand system, which moves fully-electric, self-driving cabins around an elevated cable network, could solve the resort town's traffic congestion issues. The company unveiled a working prototype at its Christchurch base last September after six years of development. The demo system, which was being jointly funded by Whoosh and Remarkables Park Ltd, would have all its key features including cabins for four or five people, stations and an app. It would give residents the opportunity to experience it and provide feedback. "We'll then make it better, and hopefully we can work with the team and deliver something down here." The company had mapped out a 50-station network that linked the resort's town centre to Frankton and the eastern and southern suburbs. It already had projects under way in the United States and the first, in a 485ha park in the city of Irvine, California, was expected to be operating by the end of next year. It was also working on projects in Japan and the Middle East. Dr Allington said a Whoosh system had many advantages over a gondola system. It could disperse its users across a greater number of smaller stations, avoiding the queues likely at peak commuter times with a gondola system's fewer, larger stations. Its modular nature allowed it to be expanded as demand required. "You can form three-dimensional networks in your cities which fit in the existing urban spaces. "You're no longer stuck with straight lines and a limited number of stops." Whoosh was not the only mass transportation system being touted for Queenstown yesterday, which also featured a talk by Doppelmayr New Zealand chief executive Garreth Hayman. Doppelmayr NZ is working with tech entrepreneur Rod Drury and former Infrastructure Commission chief executive Ross Copland on a gondola system designed to move 3000 people an hour. The first stage, estimated to cost $250m, would run from the town centre up to a Queenstown Hill station, along to a Lake Johnson station, down to the Frankton bus hub, then on to the airport. Part of the Queenstown Lakes and Central Otago district councils' regional deal submission, the plan's backers hope to have it operating by late 2028. Dr Allington told the Otago Daily Times a gondola "solves one problem, but not every problem", and could co-exist with Whoosh. If a Whoosh system was wanted for Queenstown, his company would be "very happy" to build one. "If not, we've got plenty of projects to keep us busy."
