A structural steel manufacturing plant that will help build the future of New Zealand’s infrastructure has been approved through Fast-track.
National Green Steel Limited lodged its application in July 2025 to build a structural steel manufacturing plant in Hampton Downs in Waikato.
“Approval has taken around five months following the commencement of the expert panel,” says Mr Bishop.
“New Zealand has a major infrastructure deficit. We need to deliver infrastructure faster, and we need the supply chains to back that up. A project like Green Steel can do both, building local manufacturing capacity and help provide material for a range of developments.
“The new plant will process about 200,000 tonnes of recycled steel annually. The project will reduce structural steel imports and reduce the amount of scrap steel being exported. Green Steel already has collections yards in Auckland, Wellington, Hamilton, Putāruru and Christchurch. These yards recover metal resources from end-of-life vehicles, sheet metal, and beams.”
“The project is expected to create about 200 skilled jobs in the region. New Zealand does not currently re-use steel – most of our scrap metal is exported. This new plant will mean we can recycle and manufacture structural steel right here in New Zealand, using material sourced from across the country,” Mr Jones says.
"The project will use electric arc furnace technology to produce high-quality structural steel with a lower carbon footprint compared to current steel production methods used in New Zealand,” Mr Watts says.
“This proposal shows the sector are willing to make the investments needed to electrify. It’s a positive sign that industry is ready to move at pace to build the infrastructure we need.”
“This is the 13th project to be approved under the Fast-track process, and the first infrastructure project to feature steel manufacturing,” says Mr Bishop.