Some North Island areas could be fully solar powered within a year

Lodestone Energy is planning five solar farms throughout the North Island, that will supply power to Kaitaia, Dargaville, Whakatane, Edgecumbe and Whitianga.

It hopes to be producing solar power from the first farm - near Kaitaia - by this time next year.

Lodestone Energy Managing Director Gary Holden says they're ambitious in their timeline.

All five farms will be built at certain stages simultaneously and thirty months from now they could be fully supplying the grid.