New Zealand already gets almost 94% of its electricity from low-carbon sources—a major clean-electricity achievement. Over the 12 months from August 2025 to July 2026, hydropower supplied about 59% of electricity consumption, geothermal about 22%, wind 9% and solar 3%. Fossil fuels supplied just over 6%, comprising roughly 5% gas and 2% coal, with rounding affecting the totals. The next challenge is to electrify transport, heating and industry, which will require much more clean electricity and help reduce fossil-fuel use, climate emissions and air pollution.

Is Electricity Growing in New Zealand?

The latest figures do not show electricity consumption per person reaching new heights, although comparisons with historical records alone cannot establish the latest annual growth trend. In 2026, consumption was about 8,200 kWh per person, around 2,200 kWh—or 21%—below the 2004 record of 10,450 kWh. Low-carbon electricity generation was about 7,700 kWh per person, around 530 kWh—or 6%—below its 1995 record. These shortfalls are concerning: a high clean-electricity share is an excellent foundation, but expanding clean generation is essential to support wider electrification and future demand.

Suggestions

New Zealand can increase low-carbon electricity generation by accelerating solar development on rooftops and at utility scale, alongside further geothermal and wind projects and improvements to existing hydropower facilities. Stronger transmission and distribution networks, storage and flexible electricity demand would help make additional clean generation useful across the country. New Zealand should also consider nuclear power as a potential source of steady, low-carbon electricity alongside solar and its established clean sources. A clear long-term expansion strategy would help meet growing demand from electric transport, heating, industry and AI infrastructure.

History

The supplied historical figures show substantial year-to-year changes in hydropower generation. In the late 1970s and throughout the 1980s, several annual increases of roughly 2–3 TWh were recorded, alongside a decline of nearly 2 TWh in 1976. The 1990s brought repeated swings: gains of around 2 TWh in 1993, 1994 and 1998 were interspersed with declines, including almost 3 TWh in 1997. The early 2000s were similarly uneven, with increases exceeding 3 TWh in 2002 and 2004 but a decline of nearly 4 TWh in 2005, followed by a roughly 2 TWh recovery in 2009. More recently, generation fell by about 2 TWh in 2012, rose by 2 TWh in 2022, fell by nearly 3 TWh in 2024 and recovered by almost 2 TWh in 2026. These fluctuations underline the value of expanding a diverse low-carbon electricity supply.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade

* 12M = Last 12 months (Aug 2025 – Jul 2026) — a rolling 12-month period, not a calendar year.