9 December 2025
New planning laws to drive New Zealand’s renewables boom further, faster
The Electricity Retailers' and Generators' Association of New Zealand (ERGANZ) welcomes the Government’s announcement of the Planning Bill and Natural Environment Bill, two new pieces of legislation to replace the Resource Management Act 1991.
ERGANZ Chief Executive Bridget Abernethy says the current system too often slows or stalls nationally significant renewable energy projects that support the growing need for electricity to help New Zealanders and New Zealand businesses meet their everyday needs.
"Under the existing RMA framework, our members face lengthy, complex and expensive consenting processes. Major wind, solar, geothermal and storage projects are often delayed by overlapping plans, inconsistent local rules and multiple rounds of appeals.
This uncertainty adds considerable time, cost and risk to projects which are clearly in the national interest.”
Abernethy says the reforms are timely as we seek to accelerate New Zealand’s investment in renewables.
“In the last year, ERGANZ members have added almost 2,000 megawatts of new wind, solar and geothermal generation to the renewables pipeline, plus a further 300 megawatts of grid-scale batteries.
This represents more than $4.3 billion of investment and, once built, enough clean electricity to power around 600,000 households. Our members are already investing heavily; what they need is a planning system that can keep up.”
Abernethy says by providing clearer national direction, reducing duplication and speeding up consenting timelines, the new legislation helps turn ERGANZ members’ significant renewable energy pipeline into finished projects, keeping power affordable, supporting electrification, and helping New Zealand meet its aspirations for a lower-carbon future.
“We’re pleased to see the Government also focused on enabling measures in the short term, such as a revitalised National Policy Statement for Renewable Electricity Generation, and look forward to seeing the new national instruments on renewable energy built on these.”
ERGANZ is committed to continuing to work constructively with Ministers, officials, local government and communities to ensure the new laws deliver on their promise.
“If we get these law changes right, our members can move faster from planning to powering Kiwi homes and businesses,” Abernethy says.
“Our members remain committed to local engagement. New planning rules are not a shortcut around genuine conversations with communities that live with our energy projects."
