We generate renewable electricity, so we spend a lot of time thinking about the environment - clean and healthy waterways, reducing emissions, and minimising waste.
Among the most visible work is what we are doing with biodiversity. That’s about protecting and restoring the places we operate in and working with others to bring those environments back to life over time.
A lot of that work starts with rivers. Our hydro stations rely on them, so there’s a responsibility to look after them properly. You can see that in programmes like Project River Recovery, where we’ve been working for decades to restore wetlands, waterways and native habitats across the South Island. It’s not quick work - often taking years or decades, but it brings back native plants and wildlife in places that have been heavily modified over the years.
We’re also focused on the species that live in and move through those rivers. Native fish like tuna (eels) need to migrate, which is not always easy when there’s infrastructure in the way. So, we’ve introduced practical solutions like trap and transfer programmes, where young tuna are moved safely upstream to continue their lifecycle. It’s a simple idea, but one that helps keep those species thriving.
Some of the work is more visible above the waterline. Along the Waiau River, for example, we’ve been involved in efforts to restore river flows and improve the health of the wider environment. That includes planting, habitat restoration, and working alongside local groups who know the area best. It’s never just us doing this work, because these projects work best when communities are part of them.
Then there are the forests. Through our Forever Forests programme, we’ve been planting and regenerating forests at scale. Part of that is about absorbing carbon over time, but it also creates habitats for native species to return and thrive. These forests are designed to last, becoming part of the permanent landscape rather than a quick fix.
You can see the impact of that kind of thinking in our work with endangered species as well. We’re long-time supporters of DOC’s kākāpō recovery programme, helping protect one of the world’s rarest birds. And visitors to our West Wind farm may be lucky enough to spot one of the hundreds of kiwi that have been released into the wild along those hills by the Capital Kiwi Project. The birds, plants and animals around our sites are what makes them so special. We’ve recently undertaken a biodiversity audit to identify the species that make their homes around our wind farms and hydro stations. It found that our established wind farms had no negative impacts on biodiversity values, while two of them - West Wind Farm and Te Uku Wind Farm - had a net positive impact!
Across all of this, the common thread is that we’re not treating biodiversity as something separate from what we do. It’s part of how we build, how we operate, and how we show up in the places we’re in. Sometimes that means big, visible projects, and sometimes it’s smaller, practical interventions to make a difference over time.
Basically, we’re trying to leave these environments better than we found them - restoring rivers, supporting native species and growing forests that will last for generations. It’s not fast work, and it’s not always simple, but it’s an important part of what a lower-emissions future and healthy biodiversity should look like.