Renewable Energy In New Zealand

Introduction-
New Zealand is a country that likes to claim it has clean and green to international communities across the globe. It shows the world its many endemic species and has many measures laid to attempt to protect them and their natural environment. New Zealand is a relatively small country with a population of 4 million. Due to its small size it must import oil and other materials for production but as cost for materials are continually increasing on the global market while supply is lowering New Zealand is attempting to become more self sufficient. In 2008 the labour led New Zealand government set a goal for energy consumption to be 90% renewable by 2025. There are multiple forms of renewable energy and New Zealand is in a unique position to take advantage of them.

Briefly define the Waikato Region and discuss its main characteristics or attributes-
The Waikato region is the fourth largest region in New Zealand, It covers 2.5 million hectares and 1,138km of coastline. The Waikato region contains 11 district councils that run different areas of the region. A census conducted by Statistics New Zealand in 2006 showed that between 2001 and 2006 the population had grown 7% to 382,716 people. The region encompasses many valuable natural resources that can be accessed for energy production and recreational use.

Identify, locate and discuss the issue-
The continued use of non-renewable energy sources poses a threat to New Zealand's clean green image. Non renewable energy supply is diminishing causing prices to rise. This need to purchase non-renewable resources is strained further by an increasing national population requiring more power for home, business and public use. Preparing for this the government has set a goal of con...

... middle of paper ...

...ronmentally significant areas within the proposed site. In conjunction with the approval Meridian Energy planted 40,000 native plants in the area which was sourced from a local company in the Raglan area. Each tower towers 80 metres into the air then another 49 metres are added by the three rotating blades. This site is the first of many proposed sites in the Waikato region. Te Uku generates enough power to annually supply 28,000 homes. The Hauāuru mā raki project was a wind farm that gained consent from production in 2010. The site was to be produced by contact energy and was expected to produce up to 504MW of energy which would have powered 170,000 homes. Unfortunately this project was withdrawn by Contact Energy due to economic conditions at the time even after receiving approval by the council.
Geothermal
In 2011 twenty percent of all of New Zealand's