[John Carnegie - Energy Resources Aotearoa] The future is incredibly exciting for everybody in the energy sector.

[Charlotte Littlewood - Taranaki Regional Skills Leadership Group] In Taranaki the oil and gas sector has been up to about a third of our economy. What's really exciting is we have huge renewables potentials.

[Sheree Long - Energy Skills Aotearoa] We're seeing a lot of new energy developments of late particularly in offshore wind farming, hydrogen.

[John] We need skills to be able to deliver the current requirements but also we need to be able to transition those workers through into new and emerging technologies.

[Sheree] Probably roles that we don't even know exist just yet.  

[Charlotte] As a Regional Skills Leadership Group we look short, medium and long term but it's really important for us to look at that 10-year plus horizon. We're speaking to businesses about where their skill shortages are now and also where they think that might change in the future.

[Sheree] Our collaboration with Regional Skills Leadership has been really positive. We rely on them for sharing of information from a regional perspective.

[Charlotte] So for young people in our region they'll be looking to the Taranaki campus about what it can provide for them. What's really exciting about Te Pūkenga as it becomes a national network is the extra opportunities it provides. 

[Sheree] It's really important that we have the training in place for the just transition to happen for people in the sector and they can actually train 
whilst they're on site and also in the classroom.  

[Charlotte] Last year we published our first Regional Workforce Plan and that not only sets out where we think the future skills needs are but also how to remove the barriers so anyone living in Taranaki can see their future in Taranaki. 

[John] The core element of being attractive to the workforce we need today is the promise of where the sector is heading tomorrow.

[Charlotte] The power of our Regional Skills Leadership Group is the diversity of voices around the table and I think if we all keep listening and understanding each other then we will set ourselves up for success.

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