Mike Casey’s push for rooftop solar wins over political parties
The CEO of Rewiring Aotearoa has successfully lobbied New Zealand's major political parties to adopt domestic solar policies ahead of the election.
Mike Casey, the head of the Rewiring Aotearoa nonprofit, has become the driving force behind a wave of rooftop solar commitments from the Greens, Labour, National, and Act. Over three years, his organisation has persuaded politicians using data, demonstrations, and advocacy focused on the financial and environmental case for electrification. The central barrier to adoption remains the upfront capital cost, which proposed subsidies and loan schemes aim to address. While solar alone cannot solve New Zealand's winter electricity demand, Casey argues batteries and better pricing signals could significantly reduce peak-period pressure on the grid.
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