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Story: Energy supply and use

Making electricity, 2007

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New Zealand’s electricity was generated using nine sources of energy in 2007. Water, or hydro energy, generated just over a half, followed by gas, generating just over a quarter. Other energy sources – geothermal power, coal, wind, wood, biogas, waste heat, and oil – made up the remainder. Wood and waste heat were used to generate electricity by large industrial plants, including the New Zealand Steel mill and wood processing plants.

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Te Ara - The Encyclopedia of New Zealand

Source: Ministry of Economic Development

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How to cite this page

Megan Cook, Energy supply and use – Electricity, late 19th to mid-20th century, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/graph/24028/making-electricity-2007 (accessed 25 June 2026).

Story by Megan Cook, published 12 April 2010.