Waikato Regional Energy Strategy – Technical Report 2026-2050

The Waikato Regional Energy Strategy provides a forward-looking roadmap for transitioning the region to a low-emissions, affordable and resilient energy system. Waikato is already central to New Zealand's energy future, producing around a third of the nation's electricity, and in the absence of a national energy strategy, regional leadership has become essential. This strategy sets out how the Waikato can drive a coordinated, partnership-based transition that strengthens the economy, protects taonga, and improves wellbeing for communities across the rohe. It updates the first regional energy strategy, prepared in 2009.

The strategy is built around four outcomes: improving energy equity, strengthening energy security, achieving environmental sustainability, and strengthening economic growth. Modelling of three long-term scenarios shows that a proactive, coordinated transition delivers the strongest results - the lowest long-term costs, deepest emissions reductions, strongest economic outcomes and greatest resilience. A just transition is fundamental, with the strategy grounded in iwi partnership and the protection of taonga, wāhi tapu, wai, whenua and mauri.

The strategy's central action is to establish a regional energy forum, bringing together iwi, industry, government and infrastructure providers to drive delivery. Seven pou (pillars) set out recommendations for the forum's consideration, covering strategic partnerships, advocacy and leadership, supportive policy settings, workforce capability and capacity, information and monitoring, funding and finance, and renewable and energy efficient technology.