OPINION: If there is ever a time where you think change might actually happen, I think that time is now. 

You know when something really significant shifts. 

Because every now and then, you get a crisis that doesn’t just hurt — it teaches and it questions.  

And we may finally learn from this one. 

We’ve got fuel prices climbing towards four dollars a litre. 

We’ve got global instability, supply lines under pressure, and once again New Zealand is sitting here — exposed. 

But what’s different this time…it’s the reaction. 

Because when you start hearing voices — strong voices, credible voices — saying this is the turning point… we have to pay attention. 

Take Mike Casey — Kiwibank Sustainable Business Leader of the Year 2026 — not some fringe thinker, not some dreamer — a guy running a fully electric cherry orchard in Central Otago, and a big one. 

And here are the facts he’s putting on the table: 

New Zealand has around 10 million machines currently reliant on imported fossil fuels. 

But about 8.5 million of those could be electrified today — right now — with the technology we already have. 

That only leaves about 800,000 that still need diesel long-term. 

So the idea that we can’t do this is just not true. 

And then look at behaviour — because behaviour tells you everything. 

Last week was the biggest week for EV sales since the Clean Car Discount ended in 2023. 

That’s not ideology — that’s people reacting to price and reality. 

And here’s the big thing. 

The average Kiwi drives about 230 kilometres a week. 

Charging an EV off solar? Roughly works to be the equivalent of $1.15 per litre — even factoring in road user charges. 

Compare that to nearly $4 a litre at the pump. 

That’s not a small saving — that’s transformational. 

And yet some of us are still hesitating. 

We’re still treating solar and EVs like lifestyle choices instead of what they actually are — infrastructure. 

Because here’s the part that really got me.  

Casey’s running a system where about 80% of his entire operation is powered by his own solar — cars, machinery, production. 

His neighbour is trying to borrow an electric tractor because diesel’s too expensive. 

That’s not theory — that’s real, working change. 

So I come back to this… 

Is this the moment where the penny drops? 

When even traditionally sceptical voices start saying, “hang on… maybe this is the way forward”? 

Because if it is — then we need to act like it. 

Every house in New Zealand should be looking at solar. 

Not as a luxury — as a baseline. 

And here’s where government comes in —I don’t want handouts, not subsidies — but smart financing. 

Low-interest, long-term loans to get solar onto rooftops. 

Because according to Casey, the savings alone could cover the repayments and still leave households $1,000 to $2,000 better off each year. 

That’s not a cost — that’s an investment. 

So if we’ve learned anything from every crisis we’ve faced — it’s this: 

We don’t get many chances to pivot. 

We don’t get many moments where the problem and the solution are sitting right in front of us at the same time. 

This might be one of them. 

LISTEN ABOVE

OPINION: If there is ever a time where you think change might actually happen, I think that time is now.&nbsp;
You know when something really significant shifts.&nbsp;
Because every now and then, you get a crisis that doesn’t just hurt — it teaches and it questions. &nbsp;
And we may finally learn from this one.&nbsp;
We’ve got fuel prices climbing towards four dollars a litre.&nbsp;
We’ve got global instability, supply lines under pressure, and once again New Zealand is sitting here — exposed.&nbsp;
But what’s different this time…it’s the reaction.&nbsp;
Because when you start hearing voices — strong voices, credible voices — saying this is the turning point… we have to pay attention.&nbsp;
Take Mike Casey — Kiwibank Sustainable Business Leader of the Year 2026 — not some fringe thinker, not some dreamer — a guy running a fully electric cherry orchard in Central Otago, and a big one.&nbsp;
And here are the facts he’s putting on the table:&nbsp;
New Zealand has around 10 million machines currently reliant on imported fossil fuels.&nbsp;
But about 8.5 million of those could be electrified today — right now — with the technology we already have.&nbsp;
That only leaves about 800,000 that still need diesel long-term.&nbsp;
So the idea that we can’t do this is just not true.&nbsp;
And then look at behaviour — because behaviour tells you everything.&nbsp;
Last week was the biggest week for EV sales since the Clean Car Discount ended in 2023.&nbsp;
That’s not ideology — that’s people reacting to price and reality.&nbsp;
And here’s the big thing.&nbsp;
The average Kiwi drives about 230 kilometres a week.&nbsp;
Charging an EV off solar? Roughly works to be the equivalent of $1.15 per litre — even factoring in road user charges.&nbsp;
Compare that to nearly $4 a litre at the pump.&nbsp;
That’s not a small saving — that’s transformational.&nbsp;
And yet some of us are still hesitating.&nbsp;
We’re still treating solar and EVs like lifestyle choices instead of what they actually are — infrastructure.&nbsp;
Because here’s the part that really got me. &nbsp;
Casey’s running a system where about 80% of his entire operation is powered by his own solar — cars, machinery, production.&nbsp;
His neighbour is trying to borrow an electric tractor because diesel’s too expensive.&nbsp;
That’s not theory — that’s real, working change.&nbsp;
So I come back to this…&nbsp;
Is this the moment where the penny drops?&nbsp;
When even traditionally sceptical voices start saying, “hang on… maybe this is the way forward”?&nbsp;
Because if it is — then we need to act like it.&nbsp;
Every house in New Zealand should be looking at solar.&nbsp;
Not as a luxury — as a baseline.&nbsp;
And here’s where government comes in —I don’t want handouts, not subsidies — but smart financing.&nbsp;
Low-interest, long-term loans to get solar onto rooftops.&nbsp;
Because according to Casey, the savings alone could cover the repayments and still leave households $1,000 to $2,000 better off each year.&nbsp;
That’s not a cost — that’s an investment.&nbsp;
So if we’ve learned anything from every crisis we’ve faced — it’s this:&nbsp;
We don’t get many chances to pivot.&nbsp;
We don’t get many moments where the problem and the solution are sitting right in front of us at the same time.&nbsp;
This might be one of them.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE

Wellingtonians now have the chance to discuss the issues of the day one-on-one with proud local Nick Mills and have a forum to share their ideas, passions and outrages on a daily basis.

You don't find many people more passionate about the capital than Nick, and he comes to Wellington Mornings after decades of success as the man behind some of the city's leading hospitality and entertainment offerings - Spruce Goose, Hummingbird and the Wellington Saints basketball team just to name a few.

Nick's proud of his city but also knows much can be improved on to make Wellington an even better place, and brings an honest, edgy, fun and engaging show to Wellingtonians each weekday from 9 'til midday.

Wellingtonians now have the chance to discuss the issues of the day one-on-one with proud local Nick Mills and have a forum to share their ideas, passions and outrages on a daily basis. You don't find many people more passionate about the capital than Nick, and he comes to Wellington Mornings after decades of success as the man behind some of the city's leading hospitality and entertainment offerings - Spruce Goose, Hummingbird and the Wellington Saints basketball team just to name a few. Nick's proud of his city but also knows much can be improved on to make Wellington an even better place, and brings an honest, edgy, fun and engaging show to Wellingtonians each weekday from 9 'til midday.

Wellingtonians now have the chance to discuss the issues of the day one-on-one with proud local Nick Mills and have a forum to share their ideas, passions and outrages on a daily basis.

Wellington Mornings with Nick Mills

Nick Mills: The time is now to go electric

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/5a4720a0-0be6-46b4-bd80-b41d00015f92/transcript