Lodestone – Kohirā Solar Farm, Kaitaia

About

New Energy collaborated with Infratec to deliver Lodestone Energy’s first utility-scale solar farm, Kohirā, located near Kaitaia in Northland.

When completed, Kohirā was New Zealand’s largest solar farm and the first utility-scale solar project to supply power directly to the national grid. The 32 MW solar farm features 61,000 solar panels and connects directly to a Top Energy substation, helping to power the local timber mill and strengthen the region’s renewable energy resilience.

Kohirā integrates environmental and land-use innovation through the inclusion of agri-voltaic farming, with sheep grazing the site beneath the panels, and a commitment to ecological restoration, with over 7 hectares of native vegetation being replanted.

As project lead, New Energy was responsible for the full mechanical delivery, including pile driving, cable reticulation, and solar panel assembly. We also managed civil works in partnership with Connell Contractors, and led the electrical installation in collaboration with ElectroNet.

Kohirā set a new benchmark for solar energy in Aotearoa and marked the beginning of a successful ongoing relationship between New Energy, Infratec, and Lodestone Energy.