Why We exist
Communities around the world are beginning to recognise that sustainability and resilience can’t be delivered from the top down. They have to be built from the ground up — through local ownership, practical innovation, and shared responsibility. WeShare is part of that shift: a transformational approach that places communities at the centre of the energy future they want to create.
A System Under Strain
Rooftop solar. Home batteries. Peer-to-peer trading. These technologies are already here — but the electricity system they rely on isn’t ready.
New Zealand’s electricity distribution network was built for a one-way flow of power, from central generation plants to passive consumers. It was never designed for households that generate and store their own energy.
Today, that system is ageing, expensive to maintain, and ill-equipped for the shift to distributed generation. Making it fit-for-purpose will take billions — and unless communities are part of the solution, the benefits may never reach those who need them most.
Meanwhile, power prices continue to rise. For many households, this means cutting essentials or living in cold, damp homes. Energy poverty is growing in New Zealand — not because there isn’t enough energy, but because the system isn’t designed to serve everyone.
We acknowledge that any energy future in Aotearoa must honour te Tiriti o Waitangi and include Māori as partners in governance, innovation, and shared benefit. WeShare is committed to working alongside tangata whenua in the design of localised energy solutions.
WeShare’s Core Belief
Access to energy isn’t a luxury. It’s a right — because no one should be left behind in the energy transition.
We exist to dismantle the barriers that prevent people from choosing energy sovereignty. That means making it affordable. Making it understandable. And making it possible for communities to own and control their power — in every sense of the word.
We don’t believe in waiting for the perfect policy or the next top-down program. We believe in building from the ground up — and in partnership with those already driving change.
What We’re Creating
We’re building toward community ownership — not just in name, but in structure, governance, and benefit. Ownership doesn’t just mean having solar panels. It means having a say in how energy is produced, used, shared, and governed locally. We’re developing legal, financial, and participatory frameworks so that this model can be community-owned and operated over time. WeShare members are shaping the future — participating in pilots, informing decisions, and preparing for community control of energy infrastructure.
WeShare is not yet incorporated as a cooperative, but the groundwork has been done and we are ready to move forward with incorporation if and when the community agrees. Governance is currently informal and evolving, with future plans to establish a transparent, community-led electoral process.
WeShare is developing a living, working model for community energy:
- Locally generated, stored, and shared power
- Financially accessible through cooperative design and funding pathways
- Transparent, inclusive governance rooted in community values
- Open-source blueprints and toolkits currently in development to support replication
This isn’t about abstract ideas or big promises. It’s about practical infrastructure that serves real people.
Why Us?
We don’t claim to have all the answers. But we’re not starting from scratch.
We’ve installed over 60 solar and battery systems on Waiheke. We’ve run peer-to-peer trading pilots with Our Energy. We’re co-developing Virtual Power Plant (VPP) models with Vector, Ecotricity, S-E-A-N-Z, and Our Energy, and are currently in the process of installing 50 more systems specifically designed to support the VPP framework. We’re building the legal, financial, and governance structures required for community energy to thrive.
We’re not trying to replace the current energy system — we’re working within it to evolve what’s possible.
We’re doing this here on Waiheke, not as a prototype — but as proof. Our goal is not to scale an organisation, but to scale a model others can adapt.
What we build here can show what’s possible elsewhere. That’s why we exist.
