Bringing power home to Maungatapere
At Maungatapere, Northpower began construction of Puna Komaru solar farm infrastructure, supporting renewable electrification and sustainable energy for Northland communities.
Annual Report 2026
27 May 2026
Investing in solar power for Northland
This year marked a significant step forward in Northpower’s solar farm programme, as we accelerated construction, deepened community engagement and committed to new renewable generation in Northland.
At Te Puna Mauri ō Omaru solar farm in Ruawai, we progressed delivery, shared learning with our communities and laid the foundations for future locally owned generation.
Advancing Te Puna Mauri ō Omaru
In July 2025, we completed an extension of Te Puna Mauri ō Omaru in just three months.
Local contractor Northdrill returned to site to lead the civil work, mechanical build and panel installation. This stage marked Northdrill’s first piling project, achieving 100% acceptance — a strong example of building capability through local delivery.
This work has increased the solar farm’s capacity to ~20MWdc, generating enough electricity to power approximately 4,000 homes and businesses and strengthening local energy resilience.
Opening the gates to the community
To tap into the buzz of New Zealand’s first community-owned large-scale solar farm, we saw an opportunity to connect with the community at Te Puna Mauri ō Omaru.
In November, we welcomed the community to the solar farm across two open days — one for local schools and one for the wider community. More than 300 visitors attended, including students from Ruawai Primary School and Ruawai College.
Guided tours, hands on learning activities and informal conversations gave visitors a closer look at how the site supports a more resilient energy future for Northland, and what community owned renewable generation looks like in practice.
More enabling generation case studies and articles...
Te Puna Mauri ō Omaru solar farm – Bringing power home
As we invest in renewable generation, our community-owned solar farm Te Puna Mauri ō Omaru powers 3,000 homes per year.
Puna Komaru solar farm
In Maungatapere, Northpower is developing solar farm infrastructure, supporting renewable electrification and delivering locally owned clean energy for Northland.
