Gas shortages, a reversal of the ban of offshore oil and gas exploration, and a government plan to double geothermal energy in the next 15 years… There’s been a lot in the news recently about New Zealand’s energy supply now and in the future. Claire Concannon speaks to researcher Dr Jen Purdie about our ongoing electrification of industry and transport, about our ‘dry year problem’, and what the future of supply and demand might look like in a changing climate.

*This episode was updated with some additional clarifications on 15th September 2025

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Guests:

• Dr Jen Purdie, Senior Research Fellow, Centre for Sustainability, University of Otago.
• Kirsty Johnston, RNZ In-Depth journalist

Learn more:

• Could nuclear fusion-generated energy be a way to help us power the future? Learn how New Zealand company OpenStar Technologies are trying to crack this.
• Read or listen to Kirsty’s recent reporting about what has changed in climate policies underpinning the Zero Carbon Act 2019. 
• The coalition government has stated they want to use New Zealand’s Emissions Trading Scheme (rather than the GIDI fund) to help drive the transition from fossil fuels to other forms of energy, but as climate change journalist Eloise Gibson reports, there are issues with this plan.

References

• The 2025 Energy in New Zealand report came out in August 2025.

Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details