16 October 2025
LETS Newsletter No 18
Newsletter No.18 October 2025
Committee News October
Margarita and Sam at the LETS stall Lyttelton Farmers Market
Hi Everyone,
Our stall at the Lyttelton Farmers Market went well. We all enjoyed the conversations and the atmosphere. Thanks to Greg and Dana we have our banner and sign and we think our stall looked great.
The overall consensus was we will host stalls more often. The Farmers Market team made the entire venture effortless. It was wonderful to have their marquee, table and chairs. Thank you Lyttelton Farmers Market Team.
For our stall LETS produced a few more local information sheets. Wendy and Tony told their brief solar stories. Take a look at:
https://www.lets.org.nz/files/stories/Everingham%20solar%20Journey.pdf
https://www.lets.org.nz/files/stories/Tony%20&%20Anne%20solar%20Journey%20v2-2.pdf
Here is a link to the minutes from our last meeting on September 22nd
Plus a link to our next meeting agenda October 27th.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1pNNoGcqEXi5mnWKH-LB_zBqfZtqMP61G97scu71FjDU/edit?usp=sharing
On November 8th we will be running the Garage Sale as a fundraiser for LETS. Simultaneously we will also have a stall at the Community Emergency Hub Expo at Albion Square. If there are any members who would like to help between 10 and 1pm at either of these events please let us know.**communityenergylytt@gmail.com**
Hope to see you at an event soon.
Wendy, Dana, Greg, Juliet, Tony, Marie, Margarita, Raymond and Sam.
any of you will have heard or Rewiring Aotearoa. They are becoming the peak - Not for Profit organisation in New Zealand to enable the energy transition to happen faster for households, businesses and the community in general. LETS decided to join their community network in September. With groups springing up all over the country we hope our combined voices can enable the energy transition to happen faster.
In a very short space of time Rewiring Aotearoa’s community network has expanded to thirty one. Lyttelton Harbour received a very warm welcome when we attended our first on-line meeting recently.
Rewiring had it’s beginnings back in the USA when Australian Dr Saul Griffiths founded Rewiring America. On his return to Australia he then began a similar organisation Rewiring Australia and now that has branched into New Zealand in 2023 and is being led by Mike Casey from Central Otago.
Backed by many generous philanthropic donors in New Zealand, Rewiring Aotearoa has an extremely well resourced, science focused organisation that is able to produce fact based research applicable to the New Zealand energy transition. Supported by an advocacy arm as well and then all the community energy groups around NZ, it feels like significant change is on the horizon. LETS is very happy to be part of this wider energy revolution.
“Rewiring Aotearoa is an independent non-partisan non-profit. It is a registered charity working on energy, climate, and electrification research, advocacy, and supporting communities through the energy transition. The team consists of New Zealand energy, policy, and community outreach experts who have demonstrated experience both locally and internationally.”
Check out LETS new community portal on their website and gain access to some great community resources they have created: https://www.rewiring.nz/communities/lyttelton-harbour
**W**E REALLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO CHECK OUT THE**REWIRING AOTEAROA**WEB SITE. THERE IS HEAPS OF AMAZING MATERIAL THERE.
Lyttelton’s Electric History
*Lyttelton’s electric history is documented on the fence at Grubb Cottage in London Street.*
You might be surprised at how early electric power came to the township and that the council coordinated the supply of electricity for many years. Electricity was a public asset until the energy reforms in the 80’s and 90’s.
*This information was compiled by The Lyttelton Museum.*
1883 - The Lyttelton Harbour Board introduced electric power to the town. The power was purchased by the New Zealand Electric Power Company but was considered unsatisfactory and in 1884, the board installed its own engines and boilers.
1889 - Tenders were called for the electrification of the township but it was deemed too expensive.
1915 - Lake Coleridge Power Company offered a quote to supply the township with electricity and by June the principle power was electricity. The Borough paid 660 pounds for the installation and by 1919 the entire town had electric power.
1916 - Grubb Cottage was connected to the grid in May 1916
1917 - The first electrician was appointed.
1924 - Electrification extended to Corsair Bay
1929 - Rail was electrified. The first electric train to Lyttelton ran February 14th.
Here is a story about an energy distribution business in the Far North that is owned by the people of the North. Over the next couple of newsletters I will share some of our learnings from this conference.
TOP Energy - Providing Sustainable Energy to the Far North
I was most impressed with TOP Energy. They are the locally owned Electricity Distribution Business in the Far North. TOP is the only EDB allowed to generate and sell it’s own power. They own a geothermal power plant. There is a special act in Parliament that enables the Far North to do this.
CEO Russel Shaw quoted some unbelievable figures about his customers.
“ 65 % of our customers are in deprivation”
“We have the second lowest level of electricity consumption in New Zealand”
With such levels of poverty and a customer base of only 34,500 and a huge land mass to connect customers to the grid TOP Energy has it’s challenges. Owning a power station however gives them a big advantage. TOP Energy are able to sell their power to the grid. This money is used to maintain the local network distribution system. They generate more revenue than they require so they are then able to subsidise the lines costs for their customers plus pay their customers a dividend.
Top Energy also encourages the customers who can afford solar to do so.
“We have the 2nd highest uptake of domestic solar in New Zealand”
The CEO said their transmission lines are close to capacity so if people can generate their own power it saves on expensive transmission upgrades.
TOP ENERGY was a great example of a locally owned community business using its assets to support it’s own customers.
To register for this event, just click on the poster and you will be directed to the Humantix site.
Interesting Articles for the Month.
Interesting Articles shared in October include:
Solar Power Cuts Electricity Bills and Carbon Emissions. NZ needs to scale up faster.
**R**ethinking the Energy Transition
https://www.ft.com/content/66bb8907-0081-45d4-9797-7416b8468f6e
Bright Sparks: Tama Toki, Aotea Energy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3O5Ksc184oM
Review of Electricity Market Performance Frontier Economics
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1OVfNolBEPParu9GPtX8GaqaaMPPi-tco/view?usp=sharing
Conference Delegates Hear Lyttelton Stories
Fifty delegates from the Adaption Futures Climate Conference visited Project Lyttelton for a field trip on October 16th. Organised by Tony Moore from the City Council, delegates heard all about Project Lyttelton’s activities. LETS was also invited along to tell the participants about their community energy stories. Small break out groups were dotted throughout the garden. There was quite a group that were keen to hear what we were doing. Interest peaked with our participation in the Community Energy Activator progamme last year.
With our newly designed QR codes all around the garden, it was an easy way for the group to get LETS details quickly. Community Board member Cathy Lum-Webb also popped up to meet the party. Thanks Cathy for your photo.
Dates for your Diary
Events coming up:
Oct 22nd - Speaker Series Ian Flatley 7.30pm
Oct 27th - LETS Committee meeting 7pm
Nov 1 - Take Charge Expo 10 - 5pm Te Pae
Nov 2 - Take Charge Expo 9 - 4pm Te Pae
Nov 8th - Garage Sale Fundraiser 10.00 -1.00pm
Nov 8th - Lyttelton Emergency Hub Expo Albion Square 10-1pm
Nov 24th - LETS Committee meeting 7pm
Membership
If you would like to join LETS and haven’t yet, here is a link to our membership application https://www.lets.org.nz/files/Membership%20Application.pdf
It’s very affordable, only $5 and you’ll be helping to shape the future of Community Energy in Aoteraoa. Thank you.
All members are welcome to sign up to our LETS Whats App Group. In this group we share networking opportunities and informative articles/podcasts. If you are interested please text Wendy 021 0476144.
Facebook Lyttelton Energy Transition Society -LETS
For links to our web page and email please click on the links at the bottom of the newsletter.
Do you have any news or events energy related that you’d like included in this monthly broadcast? Please email Wendy communityenergylytt@gmail.com
If you're reading this online and want it delivered to your inbox, click on the 'Subscribe' link in the top LH of this newsletter (if you're reading it on a screen), subscribe here, or email me at communityenergylytt@gmail.com