New Zealand opens waters to offshore renewable energy

Electricity generation reached a record 96.4% in the last three months of 2025.

New Zealand has passed the Offshore Renewable Energy Bill, establishing the country's first regulatory framework for offshore wind, solar, wave and tidal energy projects, Energy Minister Simeon Brown said.

The move comes as New Zealand's renewable electricity generation reached a record 96.4% in the last three months of 2025, with Brown saying offshore renewable energy could help extend that momentum and meet rising power demand.

He noted that without a regulatory framework, uncertainty had been holding back potential developers.

The South Taranaki coast is emerging as the frontrunner site. Winds there are comparable to the North Sea — the world's most productive offshore wind region — and their steadiness means turbines are expected to run at higher capacity than onshore equivalents.

Brown said a single large project in the South Taranaki Bight could potentially power more than 650,000 homes.

The legislation introduces a two-stage permitting system—a feasibility permit allowing developers to investigate a specific site, followed by a commercial permit plus environmental consents required before construction and operation can begin.

The law also allows safety zones around developments to protect people and assets, and places decommissioning obligations on developers once infrastructure is no longer in use.