The list is not exhaustive – only power stations over 0.5 MW and significant power stations below 0.5 MW are listed.
Power plants in New Zealand have different generating roles – for baseload, intermediate or peaking. Baseload generators are those that run continuously (except for maintenance), and include all geothermal and run-of-the-river hydroelectric plants, which must 'use it or lose it'. Intermediate generators are load-following power plants. Peaking power plants generate only for minutes or hours at a time, during the sharpest peaks in electricity demand.[1] Nuclear power is not used in New Zealand.
Name! style="background: #f2f2f2; color: #000080" height="17" width="13%" Territorial authority | Scheme | Coordinates | Capacity (MW) | Commissioned | Operator |
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Amethyst | Westland | | | 7.6 | 2013 | Westpower |
| Whakatane | | -38.2937°N 176.7924°W | 25 | 1980 | Southern Generation Partnership |
| South Waikato | Waikato River | -38.0714°N 175.6433°W | 196.7 | 1929, 1946 | Mercury Energy |
| Taupō | Waikato River | -38.6158°N 176.1425°W | 78 | 1964 | Mercury Energy |
Argyle | Marlborough | Branch River | -41.6708°N 173.2033°W | 3.8 | 1983 | Manawa Energy |
| Grey | | -42.5291°N 171.4113°W | 3.0 | 1932 | Manawa Energy |
| South Waikato / Taupō | Waikato River | -38.3931°N 176.0233°W | 84 | 1962 | Mercury Energy |
| Waitaki | Lower Waitaki | -44.6558°N 170.355°W | 220 | 1968 | Meridian Energy |
| Waitaki | Lower Waitaki | -44.5642°N 170.1972°W | 540 | 1965 | Meridian Energy |
| Ashburton | | -43.4524°N 171.5844°W | 0.9 | 2010 | MainPower |
| Central Otago | Clutha River | -45.1794°N 169.3069°W | 432 | 1992 | Contact Energy |
| Tasman | | -41.1036°N 172.6878°W | 34.3 | 1956 | Manawa Energy |
| Selwyn | | -43.3642°N 171.5269°W | 45 | 1914 | Manawa Energy |
Deep Stream | Clutha | Waipori | | 5 | 2008 | Manawa Energy |
Dillmans | Westland | Kumara | | 3.5 | 1928 | Manawa Energy |
Duffers | Westland | Kumara | | 0.5 | 1928 | Manawa Energy |
Ellis | Central Otago | Teviot Scheme | | 7.8 | 1981 | Pioneer Energy |
Falls | Central Otago | Manuherikia River | | 1.3 | 2003 | Pioneer Energy |
Flaxy | Whakatane | Wheao and Flaxy | | 2.1[5] | 1982 | Manawa Energy |
Fraser (Lower) | Central Otago | Fraser Power Scheme | | 2.8 | 1956 | Southern Generation Partnership |
Fraser (Upper) | Central Otago | Fraser Power Scheme | | 8 | 2019 | Southern Generation Partnership |
George | Central Otago | Teviot Scheme | | 1 | 1924 (refurbished 2002) | Pioneer Energy |
Highbank[6] | Ashburton | Rangitata Diversion | -43.5733°N 171.7356°W | 25.2 | 1945 | Manawa Energy |
Hinemaiaia A | Taupō | Hinemaiaia | -38.8901°N 176.0909°W | 2.0 | 1952 | Manawa Energy |
Hinemaiaia B | Taupō | Hinemaiaia | | 1.3 | 1966 | Manawa Energy |
Hinemaiaia C | Taupō | Hinemaiaia | | 2.8 | 1982 | Manawa Energy |
Horseshoe Bend | Central Otago | Teviot Scheme | | 4.3 | 1999 | Pioneer Energy |
Kaimai 5 | Western Bay of Plenty | Kaimai | | 0.35 | 1994 | Manawa Energy |
Kaitawa | Wairoa | Waikaremoana | -38.8032°N 177.1311°W | 36 | 1948 | Genesis Energy |
Kaniere Forks | Westland | Lake Kaniere | | 0.43 | 1911 | Manawa Energy |
| Waipa | Waikato River | -37.9239°N 175.5392°W | 90 | 1948 | Mercury Energy |
Kourarau | Carterton | | | 1.0 | 1923, 1925 | Genesis Energy |
Kowhai | Central Otago | Teviot Scheme | | 1.9 | 2010 | Pioneer Energy |
Kuratau | Taupō | | -38.8795°N 175.7356°W | 6 | 1962 | King Country Energy |
Kumara | Westland | Kumara | | 6.5 | 1928 | Manawa Energy |
Lloyd Mandeno | Western Bay of Plenty | Kaimai | | 15.6 | 1972 | Manawa Energy |
Lower Mangapapa | Western Bay of Plenty | Kaimai | | 6.0 | 1979 | Manawa Energy |
| Southland | | -45.5214°N 167.2778°W | 850 | 1971 | Meridian Energy |
| Horowhenua | | -40.5767°N 175.4503°W | 42 | 1924 | Todd Energy |
| New Plymouth | | -39.1051°N 174.1188°W | 4.5 | 1906, 1931 | Manawa Energy |
| South Waikato / Taupō | Waikato River | -38.3525°N 175.7439°W | 252 | 1954 | Mercury Energy |
| South Waikato / Taupō | Waikato River | | 108 | 1971 | Mercury Energy |
Maraetai (mini) | South Waikato / Taupō | | | 0.1 | | Mercury |
| Whakatane | | -38.1149°N 176.8145°W | 80 | 1967 | Manawa Energy |
| Buller | | -41.6619°N 172.3344°W | 5 | 2020 | Southern Generation Partnership |
McKays Creek | Westland | Lake Kaniere | | 1.1 | 1931 | Manawa Energy |
Michelle | Central Otago | Teviot Scheme | | 1.6 | 1982 | Pioneer Energy |
| Southland | | -45.7757°N 167.6166°W | 6.6 | 1926 | Pioneer Energy |
Montalto | Ashburton | Rangitata Diversion | | 1.8 | 1982 | Manawa Energy |
| New Plymouth | | | 4.5 | 1927-1938 | Manawa Energy |
| South Waikato / Taupō | Waikato River | -38.4083°N 176.0894°W | 112 | 1962 | Mercury Energy |
Ōhau A[7] | Mackenzie | Upper Waitaki | -44.2644°N 170.0322°W | 264 | 1980 | Meridian Energy |
| Waitaki | Upper Waitaki | -44.2994°N 170.1122°W | 212 | 1984 | Meridian Energy |
| Waitaki | Upper Waitaki | -44.3419°N 170.1822°W | 212 | 1985 | Meridian Energy |
| Bay of Plenty | | -37.8463°N 176.0893°W | 0.3 | 1915, extended 1921 | Omanawa Falls Hydro Limited |
| Tasman | | -40.7822°N 172.6875°W | 0.94 | 2003 | Onekaka Energy |
Opuha | Mackenzie | | | 7.5 | 1999 | Opuha Water / Manawa Energy |
Oxburn/Glenorchy | Queenstown Lakes | | | 0.4 | 1968 | Pioneer Energy |
Paerau | Central Otago | Strath Taieri | | 10 | 1984 | Manawa Energy |
| South Taranaki | | -39.5461°N 174.5703°W | 32 | 1984 | Manawa Energy |
Patearoa | Central Otago | Strath Taieri | | 2.3 | 1984 | Manawa Energy |
| Ruapehu | | -38.9116°N 175.3429°W | 1.3 | 1924 | King Country Energy |
Piripaua | Wairoa | Waikaremoana | -38.8391°N 177.1682°W | 42 | 1943 | Genesis Energy |
| Tasman | | | 0.3 | 1929 | Pupu Hydro Society |
| Taupō | Tongariro | -39.1533°N 175.8368°W | 120 | 1983 | Genesis Energy |
Rimu | Hastings | Esk | | 2.4 | 2013 | Manawa Energy |
| Central Otago / Queentown Lakes | Roaring Meg | | 3.0 | 1936 | Pioneer Energy |
| Central Otago / Queentown Lakes | Roaring Meg | | 1.3 | 1936 | Pioneer Energy |
| Central Otago | Clutha River | -45.4758°N 169.3226°W | 320 | 1956 | Contact |
Ruahihi | Western Bay of Plenty | Kaimai | | 20 | 1981 | Manawa Energy |
| Mackenzie | Upper Waitaki | -44.0138°N 170.4605°W | 25 | 1951 | Genesis Energy |
| Mackenzie | Upper Waitaki | -44.1225°N 170.2119°W | 160 | 1977 | Genesis Energy |
| Taupō | Tongariro | -38.9811°N 175.7683°W | 240 | 1973 | Genesis Energy |
Toronui | Hastings | Esk | | 1.4 | 2013 | Manawa Energy |
Tuai | Wairoa | Waikaremoana | -38.8068°N 177.1508°W | 60 | 1929 | Genesis Energy |
Wahapo/Ōkārito Forks | Westland | | | 3.1 | 1960 | Manawa Energy |
Waihi Hydro | Waihi | | | 5.0 | 1986 | Eastland Generation |
Waihopai | Marlborough | | -39.1533°N 175.8368°W | 2.5 | 1927 | Manawa Energy |
| South Waikato | Waikato River | -38.2922°N 175.6836°W | 51 | 1961 | Mercury Energy |
Waipori 1A | Clutha | Waipori | | 10 | | Manawa Energy |
Waipori 2A | Clutha | Waipori | | 58 | | Manawa Energy |
Waipori 3 | Clutha | Waipori | | 7.6 | | Manawa Energy |
Waipori 4 | Clutha | Waipori | | 8 | | Manawa Energy |
| Waikato | | -38.5317°N 175.0083°W | 4.6 | 1925 | King Country Energy |
Wairua | Whangarei | | -35.7575°N 174.0676°W | 5.0 | 1916 | Northpower |
| Waitaki | Lower Waitaki | -44.6898°N 170.4262°W | 90 | 1935 | Meridian Energy |
| South Waikato / Taupō | Waikato River | -38.4196°N 223.493°W | 124 | 1956 | Mercury Energy |
Brooklyn (hydro) | near Motueka, Tasman | | | 0.2 | 1934 | Brooklyn Electricity Ltd |
Drysdale | near Marton, Manawatu-Wanganui | | | 0.1 | | Drysdale Hydro Company |
Feredays Island | Canterbury | | | 0.3 | 2005 | Kea Energy |
Fox | West Coast | | | 0.2 | | Manawa Energy |
Mangapehi | Waikato | | | 1.6 | 2008 | Clearwater Hydro |
Mangatangi | Franklin, Auckland | | | 0.6 | | Watercare Services |
Mangatawhiri | Franklin, Auckland | | | 0.2 | | Counties Power |
Marokopa | Waitomo area, Waikato | | | 2.0 | | Clearwater Hydro |
Mataura | near Gore, Southland | | | 0.9 | | Niblick Trust |
Matawai | Gisborne | | | 2.0 | 2009 | Clearwater Hydro |
Mokauiti | Central North Island | | | 1.9 | 1925, 1938, 1963 | King Country Energy |
Ngahere | West Coast | | | 0.1 | | Birchfield Minerals |
Normanby | Normanby, Taranaki | | | 1.0 | 1903, 2015 | Greenfern Industries |
Onekaka | Tasman District | | | 1.0 | | Onekaka Energy |
Opunake | Opunake, Taranaki | | | 0.3 | | Manawa Energy |
Raetihi | Raetihi, Manawatu-Wanganui | | | 0.3 | | Manawa Energy |
Rochfort | Westport, West Coast | | | 4.2 | 2013 | Kawatiri Energy |
Talla Burn | Central Otago | | | 2.6 | 2010 | Talla Burn Generation |
Teviot Bridge | Roxburgh, Otago | Teviot Scheme | | 1.1 | 1972 | Pioneer Energy |
Turitea (hydro) | near Palmerston North | | | 0.1 | | Palmerston North City Council |
Waihi Station | near Wairoa, Hawke's Bay | | | 4.7 | 1913 | Manawa Energy |
Wheao | Whakatane | Wheao and Flaxy | -38.6333°N 176.5781°W | 24 | 1982 | Manawa Energy | |
Name | Location | Type | Capacity (MW) | Commissioned | Decommissioned | Last Operator | Notes |
---|
| Queenstown | 2 Pelton wheels | 0.04 | 1886 | 1907 | Phoenix Mine | First industrial generation in NZ |
| north-east of Rotorua | | 0.2 | 1901 | 1936 | NZ Government | First power station owned by government. Dismantled in 1941 |
| Queenstown | 1 Pelton wheel | 0.06 | 1924 | 1966 | Otago Central Electric Power Board | Decommissioned but restored as heritage exhibit in 2005 |
| east of Cambridge, Waikato | | 10.3 | 1913 | 1947 | State Hydro Department | Drowned by formation of Lake Karapiro |
| Reefton, West Coast | | <1 | 1888 | 1949 | Grey Electric Power Board | Demolished |
Wye Creek | Otago-Southland | | 1.3 | 1936 | 2008 | Pioneer Energy | Mothballed after turbine/generator failure |
Havelock North | Maraetotara Valley | | 0.18 (250 hp) | 1922 | 1941 | Hawke’s Bay Electric Power Board | Dam used as popular swimming spot. Decommissioned due to lightning strike damage. | |
Name | Location | Type | Planned Capacity (MW) | Operator | Status | Notes |
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| near Waiuku, Auckland | Wind | 15 | Private operator | 2MW under construction | [21] |
Castle Hill | northeast of Masterton | Wind | 300 | Genesis Energy Limited | consented - seeking extension | [22] [23] |
Edgecumbe Solar Farm | Edgecumbe | Solar | 38 | Far North Solar Farms | consented | [24] |
Edgecumbe Solar Farm Genesis | Edgecumbe | Solar | 114 | Genesis Energy Limited | acquired from Helios. FID due mid-2025 | |
Foxton Solar Farm | Foxton | Solar | 42 | Far North Solar Farms | consented | |
Huriwaka (prev. Central Wind)(Moawhango) | between Taihape and Waiouru | Wind | 230 (prev. 130) | Manawa Energy | Previously Meridian Energy, consents lapsed, re-consenting underway with new developer Manawa Energy | |
Te Mihi Stage 2 | Taupō | Geothermal | 100 | Contact Energy | ~100MW - partially replaces Wairakei A & B legacy power stations | [25] |
Te Mihi Stage 3 | Taupō | Geothermal | 100 | Contact Energy | Final replacement of Wairakei A & B legacy power stations | |
Glenbrook Battery | Glenbrook | Battery | 100 | Contact Energy | under construction - online Q1 2026 | [26] |
| Waikato coast | Wind | 504 | Contact Energy | consents lapsed | |
| North Canterbury | Wind | 76 | Meridian Energy | consents lapsed | [27] |
Huntly Battery | Huntly | Battery | 100 | Genesis Energy Limited | online Q1 2027 | |
Huntly Wind Farm | Huntly | Wind | 200-300 | Mercury Energy | In design | |
Kaimai Wind Farm | northern Kaimai Range | Wind | 168 | Ventus Energy | applied for consent | [28] |
Kaiwaikawe | Dargaville | Wind | 74 | Mercury Energy | consented | [29] |
Kawerau TOPP2 | Kawerau | Geothermal | 50 | Eastland | Under construction. Joint venture Eastland and Ormat. First power late 2025 | |
Kaiwera Downs Stage 2 | south-east of Gore, Southland | Wind | 155 | Mercury Energy | Stage 2 - 155MW - under construction - first power mid-2026 - completion mid-2027 | |
Kowhai Park Solar Farm | Christchurch | Solar | 168 | Contact, Lightsource BP | Under construction - online Q2 2026 | [30] |
Lauriston Solar Farm | Lauriston, Canterbury | Solar | 52 | Genesis Energy, FRV Australia | consented - under construction | [31] |
Lodestone One | Dargaville | Solar | 80 | Lodestone Energy | consented | [32] |
Te Herenga o Te Rā | Edgecumbe | Solar | 32 | Lodestone Energy | under construction - first power late 2024 | [33] |
Lodestone Five | Whitianga | Solar | 34 | Lodestone Energy | under construction - online late 2025 | |
| near Twizel, Canterbury | Hydro | 35 | Meridian Energy | consents lapsed | |
Manawatu Battery | Manawatu | Battery | 100 | Meridian Energy | applied for consent | |
Mahinerangi stage 2 | Lake Mahinerangi, west of Dunedin | Wind | 138 | Mercury Energy | consented | |
Marsden Point | Northland | Solar | 26.7 | Refining NZ | | [34] |
Mount Munro | Eketahuna | Wind | 90 | Meridian Energy | applied for consent | [35] |
Rangiriri | Waikato | Solar | 146 | Island Green Power | in development | [36] |
Ruakākā Battery Storage | Northland | Battery | 100 | Meridian Energy | under construction | [37] |
Ruakākā Solar Farm | Northland | Solar | 120 | Meridian Energy | seeking consents | |
| Canterbury | Wind | 93 | MainPower | consented | [38] |
| West Coast | Hydro | 24 | Hydro Developments | Consents expire 2026 | [39] |
Ngatamariki OEC5 | Taupō | Geothermal | 46 | Mercury Energy | consented - construction starts early 2024first power late 2025 | [40] |
Ngawha OEC5 | Kaikohe | Geothermal | 32 | Top Energy | consented | [41] |
Onslow | Otago | Pumped hydro | 1200 | New Zealand Government | detailed investigation; cancelled after change of government | [42] [43] |
| Te Aupōuri peninsula | Solar | 22 | Far North Solar Farm | under construction | [44] [45] |
| Manawatu | Wind | 228 | Mercury Energy | consents expire 2031 | [46] |
Rakaia River | Canterbury | Hydro | 16 | Ashburton Community Water Trust | consented | |
Rangitaiki | Taupō | Solar | 400 | Nova Energy | consented | [47] |
Rototuna | Northland | Wind | 500 | Meridian Energy | | |
Slopedown | east of Gore, Southland | Wind | 150 | Genesis Energy Limited | | [48] |
Stratford Battery | Stratford, Taranaki | Battery | 100 | Contact Energy | consented | [49] |
Swannanoa | Christchurch | Solar | 200 | Meridian Energy | seeking consent | |
Taheke | Okere Falls, Rotoiti | Geothermal | 35 | Eastland | consented | |
Taumatatotara | 10 km south of Taharoa | Wind | 92 | Ventus Energy | consented stage 1 (seeking amendment for stage 2 tip height of up to 180m) | |
Te Huka Unit 3 | Taupō | Geothermal | 51.4 | Contact Energy | under construction. first power late 2024 | [50] |
Te Rere Hau Wind Farm re-power | Palmerston North / Tararua | Wind | 126 | NZ Windfarms-Meridian | replace Windflow 91x500 kW with 30x4.2 MW turbines raising wind farm capacity to 126 MW | |
Tararua Wind Farm re-power | Palmerston North / Tararua | Wind | 60MW uplift to 221MW | Mercury Energy | replace turbines for uplift of 60MW to 221MW | |
| Marlborough | | 10 | Energy Pacifica | | |
Upper Kaituna | Bay of Plenty | Hydro | 14 | Bay of Plenty Energy | concession granted. project not being pursued | |
Waikato Solar | Waikato | Solar | 100 | Meridian Energy | design | |
Waitahe Solar Farm | Waiotahe | Solar | 81 | Far North Solar Farms | consented | |
Waiinu Energy Park | Taranaki | Wind/Solar/Battery | 350 Wind550 Solar | Meridian | seeking fast track consent | |
Waerenga | Waikato | Solar | 190 | Island Green Power | in development | [51] |
Waikato Power Station | Tihiroa, Waikato | Gas | 360 | Todd Generation | consented (expires 2027) | [52] |
Western Bay Solar Project | Kuratau | Solar | 500 | Meridian | seeking fast track consent | |
Whakamaru Battery | Whakamaru | Battery | 150 | Mercury Energy | preliminary design | | |