NZ InfraWatch
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Haldon Solar Farm: Mackenzie Basin
Lodestone Energy (private developer) · Canterbury
A 220MW solar farm on 320 hectares within Haldon Station in the Mackenzie Basin, generating about 370GWh a year, enough for roughly 45,000 homes. Cost is put at about $310m and the build at 12 to 16 months. It is the first solar farm approved under the Fast-track Approvals Act. The Environmental Defence Society has appealed to the High Court.
Data current as at 16 Sept 2026, when the pipeline was last checked against its source.
Key facts
- Region
- Canterbury
- Sector
- Energy
- Status
- Planning
- Estimated value
- $310m
- Indicative completion
- TBC
- Funding status
- No Source
- Lead organisation
- Lodestone Energy (private developer)
- Election risk
- Extreme
Election risk assessment
Privately developed renewable generation, not dependent on a Crown funding decision. The live risk here is legal rather than political: the Environmental Defence Society has appealed the fast-track approval to the High Court.
Government priority alignment
HIGH: Renewable generation and fast-track consenting are both stated government priorities; this is the first solar farm approved under the Act.
Recent changes
- 2026-W37Major New project added: Haldon Solar Farm: Mackenzie Basin (Planning, $310m).
Chronology
- 2026Haldon Station solar farm enters the fast-track process and is assessed by an expert panel over about six months
- 2026Fast-track approval granted, the first solar farm consented under the Act, for 220MW across 320ha producing about 370GWh a year
- 2026Environmental Defence Society appeals the approval to the High Court (September), arguing the panel should have declined it and challenging the ten-year 'no net loss' review condition
Source
Lodestone's Haldon Solar Farm wins fast-track approval in Mackenzie Basin (NZ Herald) ↗ · Mackenzie Country Solar Farm Should Have Been Declined, Says EDS (Scoop, 4 Sep 2026) ↗ · Haldon Station Solar Farm Project Enters Fast Track (Lodestone Energy) ↗