Where dose NZ Get electricity

1,Electricity sector:The electricity sector in New Zealand uses mainly renewable energy sources such as hydropower, geothermal power and increasingly wind energy. 75% of energy for electricity generation is from renewable sources, making New Zealand one of the lowestcarbon dioxide emitting countries in terms of electricity generation. Electricity demand has grown by an average of 2.1% per year from 1974 to 2010 and decreased by 1.2% from 2010 to 2013.[1] Despite being slightly above global average in the list of countries by energy intensity, New Zealand has been called one of the least energy efficient countries in the OECD when comparing economic output against electricity consumption.[4]

output against electricity consumption.[4]

Regulation of the electricity market is the responsibility of the Electricity Authority (formerly the Electricity Commission). Electricity lines businesses, including Transpower and the distribution lines companies, are regulated by the Commerce Commission. Control is also exerted by the Minister of Energy in the New Zealand Cabinet, though the Minister for State-Owned Enterprises and the Minister for Climate Change also have some powers by virtue of their positions and policy influence in the government

Wind power: Wind power is extracted from air flow  using  wind turbines or sails  to produce mechanical or electrical power. Windmills are used for their mechanical power, windpumps for water pumping, and sails to propel ships. Wind power as an alternative to fossil fuels, is plentiful,renewable, widely distributed, clean, produces no greenhouse gas emissions during operation, and uses little land.[1] The net effects on the environment are generally less problematic than those from nonrenewable power sources.

History

Initial use of electricity in New Zealand was associated with mining. The first industrial hydro-electric power plant was established atBullendale in Otago in 1885, to provide power for a 20 stamp battery at the Phoenix mine. The plant used water from the nearby Skippers Creek, a tributary of the Shotover River.[5][6]

Reefton on the West Coast became the first electrified city in 1888 after the Reefton Power Station was commissioned, while the first sizable power station was built for the Waihi gold mines at Horahora on the Waikato River. This set a precedent which was to dominate New Zealand's electricity generation, with hydropower becoming and remaining the dominant source. In 1930, the percentage was at 92%.[7]