The Green Party has unveiled a comprehensive energy policy proposing the creation of a new publicly owned electricity company, Kiwipower, backed by a $980 million funding allocation over four years. The initiative aims to lower household power bills, expand renewable energy access, and enhance electricity security in New Zealand.
Announced at Dunedin’s Gasworks Museum, Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick outlined plans for Kiwipower as a Crown entity focused on investing in renewable power generation and addressing supply challenges during dry years. The party intends to fund the appropriation through a proposed tax targeting the country’s wealthiest individuals.
“The Greens will lower bills, cut emissions and put power back in the hands of New Zealanders,” Swarbrick said. The policy includes measures such as zero-interest clean energy loans for households installing solar panels and battery storage, a “renters’ right to solar,” and a proposal to legalize plug-in solar systems designed to benefit tenants who currently lack access to such technologies.
According to the Greens, a fully electric home equipped with solar panels could save up to NZD 1,000 annually on power costs, factoring in loan repayments, while renters using plug-in solar systems might reduce their bills by as much as NZD 350 per year.
The plan also allocates NZD 200 million to support community-owned renewable energy projects, with Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson emphasizing the importance of enabling local communities, including schools, marae, papakāinga, and libraries, to share in renewable energy benefits.
In line with these goals, an NZD 80 million fund focused on installing solar panels on more than half of Māori housing projects aims to address the higher incidence of energy hardship faced by tangata whenua. Davidson highlighted the investment as a way to ensure renewable energy benefits reach Māori communities.
The Greens criticize the current electricity market structure, identifying four major players—Meridian, Genesis, Mercury, and Contact—that collectively control more than 85 percent of generation and retail markets. Swarbrick pointed out that 200,000 households struggle to afford adequate heating, while these companies continue to generate significant profits.
The announcement coincides with ongoing government discussions on securing electricity supply in challenging periods, notably dry years. The Government is reportedly considering options including the construction of a liquefied natural gas (LNG) import terminal as a backup energy source.
Swarbrick sharply criticized this approach, stating that reliance on imported fossil fuels would prolong carbon emissions and increase costs. “Gas belongs in a museum,” she said, accusing Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s administration of committing New Zealand to 15 more years of expensive fossil fuel dependence.
The Green Party argues that Kiwipower would not only reduce reliance on fossil fuels but also improve supply security and create regional employment opportunities through investment in renewable energy projects.