Industry in action: recognising people, progress and innovation

Across HVAC&R and the industries we support, people are investing in skills, developing practical lower-emissions solutions and sharing knowledge that can move entire sectors forward.

This month, we’re turning the spotlight on some of the companies, individuals and industry groups doing exactly that.

Kiwifruit Collaboration Earns National Recognition

The Kiwifruit Postharvest Industry Refrigerant Decarbonisation Project has received the FMG Sustainable Innovation Award at the 2026 Horticulture Industry Awards.

The project brings together Lloyd Franks of Seeka, Ollie Hoare of HumePack, Sarah Lei of Trevelyan’s and Les Dimond of G4 Kiwi Supply to help the sector transition away from high-global-warming refrigerants and ageing refrigeration infrastructure.

Backed by $1.75 million in government and industry funding, the initiative has already delivered pilot upgrades across 29 refrigeration systems, reducing potential emissions by more than 17,000 tonnes of CO₂-equivalent.

It is a powerful example of what can be achieved when organisations collaborate, share knowledge and develop solutions for the benefit of an entire industry.

Read about the award and project

Active Refrigeration and Alliance Group win Low Carbon Future Award

Active Refrigeration and Alliance Group have won the Low Carbon Future Award at the 2026 New Zealand Energy Excellence Awards for their programme of high-temperature heat-pump projects.

Delivered across Alliance Group’s Pukeuri, Lorneville and Mataura processing sites, the systems provide more than 11 MW of high-temperature heat-pump capacity. They recover heat that would otherwise be lost and reduce reliance on ageing coal-fired boilers.

The projects are estimated to avoid approximately 25,000 tonnes of CO₂-equivalent emissions each year - demonstrating the scale of change that practical engineering, natural refrigerant technology and long-term partnership can deliver.

Congratulations to the teams at Active Refrigeration, Alliance Group and everyone who helped bring these projects to life.

Read the project story and watch the video

Ryan Philip: "Your job is a climate job"

Ryan Philp, Head of Sustainability at Daikin New Zealand, has released his book, Your Job is a Climate Job.

Its message is simple but important: climate action is not limited to policymakers or people with “sustainability” in their job title. Engineers, technicians, designers, accountants, business leaders and many others influence the systems around them through the decisions they make every day.

Ryan’s work encourages people to identify the professional decisions within their control that have the greatest environmental or social impact - and to begin there.

Congratulations to Ryan on adding an accessible and practical industry voice to the sustainability conversation.

Learn more about Ryan and the ideas behind the book

Celebrating the Next Generation at Excel

Excel Refrigeration and Air Conditioning brought its apprentices together in Palmerston North for its Apprentice Week and Awards in September.

The awards recognise the commitment, technical development and achievements of apprentices building their careers in refrigeration and HVAC&R. Training and initiatives like this play an important role in strengthening the industry’s future workforce and acknowledging the people developing the specialist skills our sector needs.

Congratulations to the apprentices recognised and to the wider Excel team for continuing to invest in training, development and industry capability.

Visit Excel Refrigeration and Air Conditioning

Connection and Community at the Women in HVAC&R NZ Quiz Night

Women in HVAC&R New Zealand hosted its quiz night on 3 September, bringing people from across the sector together for an evening of connection, teamwork and a little friendly competition.

Events like this create valuable opportunities to build relationships across companies and disciplines, support greater visibility for women in the industry and help develop a stronger, more connected HVAC&R community.

Thank you to the organisers, sponsors and everyone who took part and helped make the evening a success.

Progress is Happening Across our Industry

From apprentice development and professional networks to collaborative decarbonisation projects and new sustainability thinking, these stories show the breadth of positive work happening across our sector.

Congratulations to everyone involved. Your achievements strengthen the industry, encourage others and demonstrate what is possible when knowledge, capability and commitment come together.