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11 MAY 2026
Contact Energy’s (Contact) Southland Wind Farm has been granted consent, with the appeal period now closed and no appeals lodged. The decision is final, with the project progressing subject to Contact’s Final Investment Decision (FID).
New Zealand’s domestic energy supply is under increasing pressure. As natural gas supplies from offshore fields continue to decline and demand for electricity grows, there is a long-term need to increase supply and invest in renewable generation.
“The Southland Wind Farm is a crucial project to enhance energy security for all New Zealanders, benefiting households and the industries that drive our economy and support communities,” says Contact CEO Mike Fuge.
The next step for Southland Wind Farm will be Contact’s FID, currently expected in 2027.
Once completed, the wind farm will include up to 55 turbines, which will power the equivalent of 150,000 Kiwi homes. The project will also bring more than $400million into the New Zealand economy, much of which will stay in Southland.
The Southland Wind Farm supports Contact’s strategy (Contact31+) to lead New Zealand’s renewable energy future by delivering new flexibility, building for new demand, and supporting the energy transition at home.
ENDS
Media enquiries
Louise Wright
Head of Communications and Reputation
+64 21 840 313
[email protected]
About Contact
Contact is leading New Zealand’s renewable energy future, operating 37 generation sites nationwide across geothermal, hydro and thermal assets. Contact supports around 670,000 customer connections across electricity, gas, broadband and mobile.
Contact is building renewable energy at pace, committing more than $2.4 billion over the past five years to the energy infrastructure, including three new geothermal power stations, two grid-scale batteries, and a solar farm in a joint venture with Lightsourcebp at Kōwhai Park in Christchurch.
Website: contact.co.nz. More information can be found in Contact’s 2025 Integrated Report.
For independent complaint or pricing advice, click here. UDL & Powerswitch can help.
To read our Residential Consumer Care policy on how we'll keep you safe and connected, click here.