Kowhai park opens at Christchurch International Airport
The South Island's largest solar farm officially commenced operations in Christchurch on 15 October 2026, adding 150MWac (168MWdc) of renewable generation capacity to New Zealand's electricity grid. Prime Minister Rt Hon Christopher Luxon presided over the opening of Kōwhai Park, a $273 million renewable energy project developed by Contact Energy and Lightsource bp at Christchurch International Airport.
The solar farm is projected to generate 275GWh of renewable energy annually, equivalent to the electricity consumption of approximately 36,000 homes. Spanning 230 hectares of airport land, the installation comprises around 300,000 solar panels, making it one of New Zealand's largest solar energy facilities.
The project represents a significant addition to New Zealand's renewable energy infrastructure, coming at a time when the country's solar capacity reached 830 MW by the end of 2025, accounting for 9.1% of total renewable electricity generation capacity compared to just 1.9% in 2020. In 2025, New Zealand achieved 88.5% renewable electricity generation, the highest share since 1981, driven by new geothermal and solar installations.
Contact Energy CEO Mike Fuge emphasized the strategic importance of the development for New Zealand's energy future. New Zealand has an incredible renewable energy advantage. Building new generation at scale gives businesses the confidence to electrify and strengthens our security of supply. That means a more resilient energy system, with more home-grown generation supporting a productive and prosperous New Zealand.
Industrial electrification partnerships
The solar farm has already secured long-term power purchase agreements with major industrial customers. Christchurch Airport and dairy processing company Synlait will source electricity directly from Kōwhai Park. Synlait has committed to purchasing 25 percent of the farm's electricity output to power its Dunsandel and Dairyworks facilities, supporting the company's efforts to reduce its carbon footprint and transition away from coal-fired energy.
The timing of Kōwhai Park's opening is particularly significant given recent trends in New Zealand's energy mix. Solar generation rose 56% year-on-year to a record 242 GWh in the second quarter of 2026, overtaking coal-fired generation for the first time in the country's history.
Joint venture expansion
Kōwhai Park represents the first completed project from the Contact Energy and Lightsource bp joint venture partnership, which was formed in April 2022 to develop grid-scale solar generation across New Zealand. Adam Pegg, Chief Operating Officer for Asia-Pacific at Lightsource bp, described the project as an important milestone for the company's operations in New Zealand.
It demonstrates what strong partnerships can deliver. Working alongside Contact Energy, Christchurch Airport, local businesses and the wider community, we have combined international capability with local knowledge to deliver a project that will provide renewable energy for decades to come.
The partnership has additional solar projects in development, including the 150 MW Glorit Solar Farm near Auckland, which reached financial close in June 2026, and the 150 MW Stratford Solar Farm in Taranaki. These projects form part of a broader investment pipeline showing over 930 MW of new solar capacity from committed projects expected to come online in New Zealand over the next three years.
Regional economic impact
Construction of the solar farm delivered substantial local economic benefits to the Canterbury region. At peak construction, the project employed 235 workers and involved 66 Canterbury businesses in the development and construction phases.
Christchurch Airport Chief Executive Justin Watson highlighted the innovative use of airport land for renewable energy generation. Kōwhai Park shows what can happen when you think differently about how airport land can be used. The vision started here at Christchurch Airport and bringing Contact Energy and Lightsource bp together to help realise it has been a fantastic example of what strong partnerships can achieve.
The airport, which covers approximately 750 hectares and became New Zealand's first international airport in 1950, has positioned the solar farm as part of a broader vision to create a renewable energy precinct that can support new opportunities and deliver long-term value for the region.
National energy transition context
The Kōwhai Park development aligns with New Zealand's ambitious renewable energy targets. The government set a goal in 2023 to achieve 100% renewable electricity by 2030, building on earlier targets. As of June 2026, New Zealand had approximately 1,000 MW of distributed solar power installations, with solar capacity doubling roughly every 24 months since records began in September 2013.
The project timeline began in December 2021 when Christchurch Airport announced Kōwhai Park with phase one planned as a 150MW solar array. Contact Energy and Lightsource bp were announced as development partners in February 2023. Commissioning began in August 2026, leading to the official opening in October 2026.
Fuge expressed confidence in the future of renewable energy development in New Zealand. Kōwhai Park is our first completed solar farm, and we have another two consented sites in Taranaki and Northland in joint venture with Lightsource bp. We have huge aspirations for what renewable energy can deliver for this country.
