Western Bay of Plenty development plan update - July 2026

Western Bay of Plenty development plan update - July 2026

Thursday, July 9, 2026

With electricity demand expected to more than double in western Bay of Plenty (WBOP) by 2050, Transpower and Powerco released a plan in late 2025 to deliver nine major electricity infrastructure projects over the next decade.

This work is planned to be completed in stages, with our overall regional development work at this stage expecting to be finished by the end of 2035. These nine projects will enhance electricity supply in the most cost-efficient way and deliver the WBOP's growing power needs now and into the future.

WBOP Development Plan update

Transpower is progressing well with the detailed design of its projects:

  • Replacing the conductor on the transmission line between Transpower’s Kaitemako and Te Matai substations
  • Replacing the conductor on the transmission line between Transpower’s Te Matai and Okere substations.
  • Replacing the conductor on the transmission line between Transpower's Tarukenga and Okere substations
  • Installing a new transformer at the Kaitemako substation.

Further early options planning and engagement work between Transpower and Powerco is also underway on the following projects:  

  • A new Transpower grid exit point (substation) near Tauriko and a new connecting line to this area from Transpower's existing 220kV line between Tarukenga and Kaitemako.
  • The reconductoring of Transpower's line between the Kaitemako and Tauranga substations. 

For Powerco’s proposed projects: 

  • A new 110kV power supply between Te Matai grid exit point (GXP) and Powerco’s Wairakei substation to enable key housing and commercial growth in and around Te Puke, Rangiuru and eastern Papamoa.
  • A new Powerco substation at Tauriko to support commercial, industrial and residential growth in the area.

No decisions have been made for either project, and Powerco is committed to working with the local community.  

Transpower is also exploring innovative transmission alternatives, known as 'non-transmission solutions' to bolster the development plan. 

Non-transmission solutions, such as large-scale batteries and demand response strategies, can play a key role by shifting electricity demand away from busy ‘peak’ times to quieter ones, giving Transpower and Powerco the flexibility to reduce how much electricity is needed at peak times. This flexibility means we can improve the performance of existing transmission infrastructure and reduce or delay the need for additional investment in new generation, upgrades or new lines, keeping costs down for Kiwi.

Transpower recently closed a Request for Proposals (RFP) exploring flexible demand-side and supply-side solutions that could deliver up to 20 MW at Tauranga by winter 2030, and 10 MW at Te Matai by winter 2031. We look forward to sharing more on this in due course.