Solar Farms / Kaitaia

Kohirā

Kohirā

Kaitaia Solar Farm, Far North

Located in the Far North near Kaitaia, Kohirā is Aotearoa’s first utility-scale solar farm to supply the national grid. Constructed in 2023, Lodestone’s Kohirā solar farm with with 33 MWp capacity is now operational.

The agrivoltaic project brought together local iwi, communities, construction partners, and Lodestone’s team to deliver a solar farm that will continue to deliver clean renewable energy for decades to come.

As part of the project 7 hectares of new native forest was planted.

Kohirā was gifted its name by Ngāti Rarawa iwi who welcomed the project and the benefits it brings to the region. Kohirā pronounced ‘core – he – raa’  translates to Suncatcher.  Where ‘Kohi’ (verb) means to collect or gather and ‘rā’ means the sun.

Generating Under construction Planning string(38) "https://lodestoneenergy.co.nz/kaitaia/" Kohirā Dargaville string(40) "https://lodestoneenergy.co.nz/edgecumbe/" Rangitaiki string(39) "https://lodestoneenergy.co.nz/waiotahe/" Te Herenga o Te Rā string(51) "https://lodestoneenergy.co.nz/whitianga-solar-farm/" Pāmu Rā ki Whitianga string(55) "https://lodestoneenergy.co.nz/haldon-station-announced/" Haldon Station string(91) "https://lodestoneenergy.co.nz/lodestone-energy-gets-the-green-light-for-south-island-sites/" Mount Somers, Clandeboye, Dunsandel

Key facts about the Kohirā Farm

Started generating in 2023

Producing 56 GWh energy annually

More than 60,000 solar panels

Seven hectares of native reforestation

Kohirā in the news

Kohirā solar farm from above

Bi-facial panels track the sun’s movements

Panels are raised more than two metres from the ground, enabling machinery and livestock ease of use

Celebration of the plant commissioning in February 2023

Kohirā’s origin

Investing in the future

To get involved in clean renewable energy