New $50M plan aims to double New Zealand’s public EV charging network
Government loans will support more than 2,500 new public charge points across cities and regions.
New Zealand is moving to expand its electric vehicle (EV) charging network with a $52.7 million government loan package designed to speed up public charger deployment nationwide. The zero‑interest loans will support a combined $60 million investment by ChargeNet and Meridian Energy and enable the installation of 2,574 new charge points, including 1,374 DC fast chargers and 1,200 AC units.
The initiative is expected to more than double the country’s current network, increasing the total to around 4,550 public chargers. At present, New Zealand has roughly 1,800 public charge points, placing it among the lowest charger‑to‑EV ratios in the OECD.
Transport Minister Chris Bishop pointed to the need to unlock a stalled market dynamic: providers are hesitant to build more chargers without more EVs on the road, while drivers delay switching due to concerns over charging availability. “The private sector is reluctant to invest in charging infrastructure until there's sufficient demand, but demand won't grow until the lack of public chargers stops putting buyers off.”
Around half of the new chargers will be installed across major cities including Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin, with the remainder located across regional areas. Planning rules are also being updated to streamline installation and reduce consent barriers.
The announcement comes as rising fuel prices renew consumer interest in EVs, though uptake has slowed following the end of the clean car subsidy.
