The South Island's largest solar farm has officially opened in Christchurch, adding 150MWac (168MWdc) of renewable generation capacity to New Zealand's electricity system. Prime Minister Rt Hon Christopher Luxon opened Kōwhai Park on 15 October 2026, marking a major milestone for the USD 273 million renewable energy project.

Kōwhai Park Officially Opened by the Prime Minister

Developed through a joint venture partnership between Contact Energy and Lightsource bp, the Kōwhai Park solar farm at Christchurch Airport is expected to generate 275GWh of renewable energy a year, the equivalent of the annual electricity demand of around 36,000 homes.

Around 300,000 solar panels stretch across the 230-hectare site at Christchurch International Airport, creating one of the country's largest solar farms.

Supporting Industrial Electrification through Long-Term Power Purchase Agreements

The solar farm is already supporting the electrification of New Zealand industry. Both Christchurch Airport and Synlait will source electricity from Kōwhai Park under long-term power purchase agreements. Synlait will buy 25 percent of the electricity generated to power its Dunsandel and Dairyworks sites.

Contact CEO Mike Fuge said the Kōwhai Park solar farm demonstrates the opportunity renewable energy presents for New Zealand.

"New Zealand has an incredible renewable energy advantage. Building new generation at scale gives businesses the confidence to electrify and strengthen our security of supply. That means a more resilient energy system, with more home-grown generation supporting a productive and prosperous New Zealand," Fuge said. "We have huge aspirations for what renewable energy can deliver for this country."

Fuge noted that Kōwhai Park is Contact's first completed solar farm, and that the company has another two consented sites in Taranaki and Northland in joint venture with Lightsource bp.

Lightsource bp's First Completed Project in New Zealand

Adam Pegg, Chief Operating Officer for Asia-Pacific (APAC) at Lightsource bp, described Kōwhai Park as an important milestone for the company as its first completed project in New Zealand.

"We are excited to bring our global experience and capability to this market and work with Contact Energy to deliver low-cost and reliable large-scale renewable energy projects," Pegg said.

"It also 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."

Pegg added that Lightsource bp sees significant opportunity for large-scale renewables to support New Zealand's growing electricity needs, industrial electrification and long-term energy security. "Kōwhai Park demonstrates the scale of what can be achieved, and we look forward to building on that momentum across New Zealand," he said.

Lightsource bp is a global independent power producer delivering end-to-end onshore renewable energy and battery storage solutions. Operating across three global regions, the company has 14.2GW developed and a 52GW+ global development pipeline.

Airport Land Reimagined as a Renewable Energy Precinct

Christchurch Airport Chief Executive Justin Watson said Kōwhai Park shows what can happen when airport land is used differently.

"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," Watson said. "Seeing the solar farm operating today is a significant step towards that vision and something we're incredibly proud to have delivered together."

"For us, this has always been about more than a solar farm. Our vision for Kōwhai Park is to create a renewable energy precinct that can support new opportunities and deliver long-term value for our region."

Local Economic Benefits from Construction

Construction of the solar farm delivered significant local economic benefits, with 235 people employed at the project's peak and 66 Canterbury businesses involved in helping to build it.

Project Timeline

The project's development spanned several years. In December 2021, Christchurch Airport announced Kōwhai Park, with phase one planned as a 150 MW solar array. In February 2023, Contact and Lightsource bp were announced as partners to develop and operate the solar farm. Commissioning began in August 2026, with the official opening taking place in October 2026.

Contact Energy's Broader Renewable Build-Out

Contact Energy is described as leading New Zealand's renewable energy future, operating 37 sites nationwide across geothermal, hydro, battery and thermal assets, and supporting more than 690,000 customer connections across electricity, gas, broadband and mobile.

The company is building renewable energy infrastructure at pace, committing more than USD 2.4 billion over the past five years, including three new geothermal power stations, two grid-scale batteries, and two solar farms. Since 2020, Contact has grown from a USD 6 billion to a USD 13 billion company, supporting jobs and businesses in almost every region of New Zealand.

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