Far North Solar Farm
| Type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Electricity generation |
| Founded | 2019 |
| Headquarters | New Zealand |
Key people | Richard Homewood John Telfer |
| Website | fnsf |
Far North Solar Farm is a New Zealand electricity generation company that specialises in the construction and operation of photovoltaic power stations. The company is Australian-owned. As of December 2025, it operates one solar farm, with one more under construction.
The company has been described as having an "unusual business history", with its directors previously involved in a solar power company implied by the NZ Sustainable Energy Association to be "disreputable".[1] That company was issued with a formal warning by the NZ Commerce Commission for making misleading claims[2], and was the subject of coverage by NZ consumer affairs programme Fair Go under the headline "Solar power company accused of robbing the community blind".[3]
History
In May 2021 the company's announced its first project, the Pukenui.[4] In May 2022 it announced a partnership with Aquila Capital to develop 1 GW of solar generation in New Zealand.[5]
In November 2023 the company announced it would apply for resource consent for a 420MW solar farm in the environmentally sensitive Mackenzie District.[6][7] The project was subsequently scheduled in the controversial Fast-track Approvals Act 2024, creating a faster pathway to obtaining resource consent.[8] The project is controversial, with "potentially catastrophic" effects on endangered birdlife.[9]
The Pukenui solar farm was finally completed in October 2025.[10]
The partnership with Aquila Capital ended in December 2025, with Aquila acquiring all interests in the solar farms developed as part of the partnership, including Pukenui.[11]
The company's proposal for a 180-hectare solar farm in Waipara has attracted widespread local opposition and in several areas involves contested legal points. Local sources have indicated the proposal may be subject to appeal through the higher courts in New Zealand.[12]
Power stations
Proposed / under construction
| Name | Type | Location | Projected capacity (MW) | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greytown 2 | Solar | Greytown, Wairarapa | 175 | Consented[13] |
| The Point | Solar | Mackenzie District | 420 | Proposed |
| Waipara | Solar | Waipara, Canterbury | 135 | Proposed |
References
- ^ Charlie Mitchell (3 August 2024). "Huge new solar farms could have 'potentially catastrophic' impact on world's rarest wading bird". The Press. Retrieved 13 December 2025.
- ^ Charlie Mitchell (3 August 2024). "Huge new solar farms could have 'potentially catastrophic' impact on world's rarest wading bird". The Press. Retrieved 13 December 2025.
- ^ Kaitlin Aldridge (7 March 2022). "Solar power company accused of robbing the community blind". One News. Retrieved 8 April 2026.
- ^ Denise Piper (14 February 2021). "New Zealand's largest solar farm proposed for top of country". Stuff. Retrieved 13 December 2025.
- ^ "Aquila Capital confirms 1GW solar PV pipeline for New Zealand". PV Magazine. 13 May 2022. Retrieved 13 December 2025.
- ^ "A second large solar farm proposed for the Mackenzie Country". Stuff. 29 November 2023. Retrieved 13 December 2025.
- ^ "Plan to build New Zealand's largest solar farm in Mackenzie Basin goes for consultation". RNZ. 30 November 2023. Retrieved 13 December 2025.
- ^ "Fast-track Approvals Bill includes 10 new solar farms". Farmers Weekly. 7 October 2024. Retrieved 13 December 2025.
- ^ Charlie Mitchell (3 August 2024). "Huge new solar farms could have 'potentially catastrophic' impact on world's rarest wading bird". The Press. Retrieved 13 December 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ^ Yolisa Tswanya (16 October 2025). "Northland's new Pukenui Solar Farm to power 4000 homes after launch". Northland Age. Retrieved 16 October 2025.
- ^ "Overseas investment decision for case 202500474 - Aquila Capital SG Holdco Pte. Ltd". Overseas Investment Office. 17 December 2025. Retrieved 4 March 2026.
- ^ Save Waipara Valley (8 April 2026). "Waipara Solar Farm - Heading to the Environment Court?". Save Waipara Valley. Retrieved 8 April 2026.
- ^ "Environment Court ruling clears way for Greytown solar farm powering 41,000 homes". New Zealand Herald. 31 October 2025. Retrieved 31 October 2025.
External links