Hutt City councillor Keri Brown from Ngāti Raukawa, Ngāti Whātua and Ngāti Mahana, has been appointed to chair the new Energy Hardship Expert Panel.
She has a background in community and public service and has led work at the council on homelessness, hardship and child outcomes.
The panel was a recommendation of the independent Electricity Price Review, and it will advise government on actions it can take to alleviate energy hardship.
The other members are Pacific health leader Dr Amanda-Lanuola Dunlop, beneficiary advocate Kay Brereton, former electricity executive Kevin Angland, and Te Pūtahitanga o Te Waipounamu chief executive Helen Leahy.
