New Zealand needs a long-term energy strategy, not more waiting

OpinionOpinion byDanielle UnizaNZ Herald·19 Aug, 2026 04:59 PM4 mins to readDanielle Uniza is Policy Manager, Infrastructure New Zealand.Over the last two quarters, more than 94% of our electricity came from renewable sources. We have hydro, geothermal and wind resources in genuine abundance, says Danielle Uniza. Photo / Jamie GrayOur energy system is stuck in a strange kind of stalemate. Everyone is waiting for someone else to move first.

Households wait for power bills to come down. Big electricity users wait for supply they can actually rely on. Developers wait for the right conditions before they’ll break ground. Transmission

New Zealand needs a long-term energy strategy, not more waiting

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