Many shareholders were concerned that virtual meetings would limit their ability to ask questions or that they could be censored, he said.
The association's survey also showed that 18 per cent of respondents who had logged into hybrid meetings reported issues with the technology - a level that it considered "completely unacceptable".
Spark had initially intended to follow the Z Energy model, but following further consideration of the information provided by the association had decided to continue with a hybrid meeting this year. "We believe that was the right decision and call on Z Energy to follow suit" Midgley said.
Z Energy last week confirmed that would be the first listed New Zealand company to hold a virtual-only annual general meeting this year.
The decision comes in the wake of its poor turn-out in 2016, when just 19 people turned up for the meetingat Wellington's Te Papa.
No date has been announced for the virtual meeting but it is likely to be held in June, earlier than its physical meeting which was in July last year.
Shareholders will be able to view the meeting over the internet and dial in and vote via a touchtone landline.
Debra Blackett, Z's corporate governance officer, said last week the company had hoped to leverage off technology to increase the number of shareholders participating in the company's annual meetings.