Meridian Energy commits $2.5 million to native forest restoration and tangata whenua partnerships

Meridian Energy has announced a $2.5 million investment to expand its Forever Forests programme, signalling a shift toward native biodiversity and stronger collaboration with tangata whenua. The new phase, titled Forever Forests 2.0, builds upon a $16 million initiative launched in 2019 that has already established more than 676 hectares of forest across Aotearoa—an area equivalent to approximately 800 rugby fields. According to reports from Waatea News on 15 October 2026, the renewable energy company intends to prioritise native forest establishment from the outset of this new phase. While the original programme utilised exotic species for rapid carbon absorption, the updated strategy focuses on restoring ecosystems and improving habitats for indigenous species earlier in the restoration process. Alongside planting, the programme has successfully removed over 13,000 invasive pests to protect local wildlife and forest regeneration. A central component of the new investment is the potential for deeper engagement with Māori. Meridian stated it will investigate further partnership opportunities alongside restoration projects on company-owned land. This focus aligns with the principles of kaitiakitanga, as restoring native vegetation contributes directly to the health of the whenua and the protection of indigenous biodiversity. Partnerships with iwi and hapū are expected to provide avenues for incorporating local environmental knowledge and cultural priorities into future planning. Meridian Chief Executive Mike Roan noted that the company aims to deliver lasting environmental benefits by building on lessons learned during the programme's first phase. To support these goals, the company has trialled innovative restoration techniques, including drone and drill seeding, which offer new ways to regenerate landscapes where conventional planting is difficult. The initiative is also projected to support Meridian’s carbon management, with forecasts suggesting the forests will generate more than 62,000 New Zealand Units under the Emissions Trading Scheme before 2030.