Anza agrees to buy Karioi and Ongaonga from Helios
Anza Power has agreed to acquire the Karioi and Ongaonga solar farms from Helios Energy Hold LP, adding 205 MWac of consented, construction-ready capacity to its New Zealand portfolio.
The companies announced the agreement in Auckland on 17 September 2026. It is Anza’s first acquisition of new projects in New Zealand since it launched the platform in January 2026.
Together, the two North Island projects represent 236 MWdc of solar and battery energy storage capacity. They are expected to produce about 411,400 MWh of electricity each year, enough to power about 58,000 New Zealand homes.
Anza Power chief executive Carlo Frigerio said: “Karioi and Ongaonga are well located consented projects, ready to move into construction.”
He said the projects add 205 MWac to Anza’s New Zealand pipeline. He also thanked Helios, landowners, mana whenua and local communities for their work on both sites.
Karioi to connect at Tangiwai
Karioi Solar Farm is a 110 MWac, 125 MWdc project near Tangiwai in the Ruapehu District. Ruapehu District Council granted resource consent after more than two years of planning, design and stakeholder engagement.
The project will connect to Transpower’s Tangiwai substation. According to Anza, the connection point was chosen for its strong solar resource and cooler air temperatures.
A local multigenerational farming family will lease the site. Sheep grazing will continue within the solar farm, while deer grazing will continue on surrounding paddocks.
The design preserves natural wetlands and provides for new native vegetation.
Ongaonga consent covers Central Hawke’s Bay site
Ongaonga Solar Farm adds 95 MWac in Central Hawke’s Bay. The site is on Taylor Road in Ongaonga and has resource consent following a public hearing in late 2025.
Meanwhile, the project is intended to connect to Transpower’s Waipawa substation. Land beside the Tukituki River will remain in pastoral use for cattle grazing.
Helios Energy managing director Jeff Schlichting said the two projects reflect years of development work with landowners, mana whenua and local communities. He said Anza had the capability and long-term capital to build them.
Anza did not disclose the value of the transaction or a construction start date.
