National’s vision is for a growing New Zealand economy where transport and industry are powered by clean energy rather than fossil fuels. But switching cars and industrial production to electricity makes no sense if the extra electricity is generated by burning coal.

New Zealand’s abundant solar, wind and geothermal resources make renewable energy a viable pathway to a low emissions economy. Achieving this will require an unprecedented investment in renewable energy.

Offshore wind is one of this country’s great untapped energy sources. New Zealand’s shallow offshore seabeds and isolated, windy location in the South Pacific means offshore wind has enormous potential to deliver clean energy at scale. New Zealand’s Exclusive Economic Zone covers four million square kilometres of ocean. Less than one per cent of that could generate 600 per cent of this country’s electricity needs from renewable energy.

However, offshore wind currently generates none of New Zealand’s electricity because investment rules are not yet in place.

National will fast track rules to unleash investment in offshore wind generation as part of our plan to Electrify NZ and help rebuild the economy.