About Us

Kia ora! Manawa Energy is now a proud part of the Contact Energy whānau. You can find us over here: About us | Contact Energy

Manawa Energy - Our Story

The origins of Manawa Energy go back to the early 20th century, when water from the Ōmanawa River in the Bay of Plenty was first used for hydro-electric power generation. The establishment of the Tauranga Electric Power Board followed in 1923, eventually evolving to become Trustpower in 1994.

As Trustpower, we pioneered the development of wind generation in Aotearoa New Zealand, building the Tararua (Manawatū) and Mahinerangi (Otago) wind farms here, and Snowtown 1 and Snowtown 2 across the Tasman in South Australia. That pioneering spirit powered us forward again in 2022 when we sold our consumer-facing retail business to focus on meeting the needs of a rapidly electrifying economy.

On 1 May 2022 we adopted our new name, and began a new chapter as Manawa Energy. We’re utilising the power of nature to provide renewable energy to our customers and the country. We play an important role in helping Aotearoa New Zealand achieve ambitious decarbonisation goals through our existing hydro stations and by developing new generation.

On 11 September 2024 we joined the Contact Energy whānau. This marked an important step forward in Aotearoa, New Zealand’s energy transition. The combination of Contact and Manawa enables greater investment in future renewable energy generation, and enhances market security. Our teams are deeply committed to building the sustainable electricity system New Zealanders deserve.