Clutha Mata Au Hydro Scheme

New Zealand is facing three big energy challenges: 

• Keeping the lights on: We need reliable energy, especially during dry years or when electricity demand is high.
  
• Keeping energy affordable: Power prices are rising, which puts pressure on households and businesses.
  
• Supporting New Zealand’s decarbonisation: Cleaner energy cuts emissions and fights climate change, but takes planning and investment

We're working on several projects to improve the efficiency of our hydro power stations. By making the most of our existing assets, we're helping to keep New Zealand's energy supply reliable and secure.

Roxburgh turbine upgrade

We’re investing over $30 million in the first-ever turbine upgrade at the Roxburgh hydroelectric dam. This major enhancement will boost the dam’s efficiency and increase its average annual electricity generation by 44 gigawatt hours (GWh). That means more clean, renewable energy to power Kiwi homes. 

Between 2024 and 2026, four of the station’s eight existing turbines will be replaced with new, high-efficiency models. These upgraded turbines will generate more electricity using the same amount of water, thanks to their improved design. As a result, the station’s overall energy output will increase, and be enough to power an additional 6,000 homes. The first of the four new turbines became operational in January 2025. 

The new 28.5-tonne, 3.9m diameter stainless steel turbines were precision-engineered by Voith Hydro, a global leader in hydroelectric technology. 

The power station was commissioned between 1956 and 1962 and originally had eight turbines manufactured in Canada by Dominion Turbines.