Source: New Zealand Government
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.
Notes to editors:
For more information about the project: National Green Steel Ltd
Fast-track by the numbers:
• 13 projects approved by expert panels.
• 21 projects with expert panels appointed (on 12 March 2026).
• 149 projects are listed in Schedule 2 of the Fast-track Approvals Act, meaning they can apply for Fast-track approval.
• 49 projects currently progressing through the Fast-track process.
• 33 projects have been referred to Fast-track by the Minister for Infrastructure (on 12 March 2026).
• On average, it has taken 129 working days for decisions on substantive applications from when officials determine an application is complete and in-scope.
Fast-track projects approved by expert panels:
• Bledisloe North Wharf and Fergusson North Berth Extension [Infrastructure]
• Maitahi Village [Housing/Land]
• Milldale – Stages 4C and 10 to 13 [Housing/Land]
• Tekapo Power Scheme – Applications for Replacement Resource Consents [Renewable energy]
• Arataki [Housing/Land]
• Drury Metropolitan Centre – Consolidated Stages 1 and 2 [Housing/Land]
• Rangitoopuni [Housing/Land]
• Drury Quarry Expansion – Sutton Block [Mining/Quarrying]
• Kings Quarry Expansion – Stages 2 and 3 [Mining/Quarrying]
• Waihi North [Mining/Quarrying]
• Green Steel [Infrastructure]
• Homestead Bay [Housing/Land]
• Sunfield Masterplanned Community [Housing/Land]
Expert panels have been appointed for:
• Ashbourne
• Ayrburn Screen Hub
• Bendigo-Ophir Gold Project
• Delmore
• Haldon Solar Farm
• Hananui Aquaculture Project
• Kaimai Hydro-Electric Power Scheme
• Lake Pūkaki Hydro Storage and Dam Resilience Works
• Mahinerangi Wind Farm
• Pound Road Industrial Development
• Ryans Road Industrial Development
• Southland Wind Farm Project
• State Highway 1 North Canterbury – Woodend Bypass Project (Belfast to Pegasus)
• Stella Passage Development (Port of Tauranga)
• Takitimu North Link – Stage 2
• The Downtown Carpark Site Development
• The Point Mission Bay
• The Point Solar Farm
• Waitaha Hydro
• Waitākere District Court – New Courthouse Project
• Wellington International Airport Southern Seawall Renewal
