Wind power in New Zealand

The Windflow 500 is New Zealand's only locally designed and manufactured wind turbine.

Wind power constitutes a small but growing proportion of New Zealand's electricity. As of November 2023, wind power accounts for 1,059 MW of installed capacity and over 6 percent of electricity generated in the country.[1]

New Zealand has abundant wind resources. The country is in the path of the Roaring Forties, strong and constant westerly winds, and the funneling effect of Cook Strait and the Manawatū Gorge increase the resource's potential. Over three-quarters (512 MW) of the country's wind generation is installed within a 150 km (93 mi) radius of Palmerston North, with some turbines in the area having a capacity factor of over 50 percent.[2]

Generation capacity and expansion

Wind power in New Zealand is located in New Zealand
Flat Hill Wind Farm
Flat Hill Wind Farm
Harapaki Wind Farm
Harapaki Wind Farm
Hau Nui Wind Farm
Hau Nui Wind Farm
Mahinerangi Wind Farm
Mahinerangi Wind Farm
Mill Creek Wind Farm
Mill Creek Wind Farm
Mt Stuart Wind Farm
Mt Stuart Wind Farm
Tararua Wind Farm
Tararua Wind Farm
Te Āpiti Wind Farm
Te Āpiti Wind Farm
Te Rere Hau Wind Farm
Te Rere Hau Wind Farm
Te Uku Wind Farm
Te Uku Wind Farm
Turitea Wind Farm
Turitea Wind Farm
Waipipi Wind Farm
Waipipi Wind Farm
West Wind Wind Farm
West Wind Wind Farm
White Hill Wind Farm
White Hill Wind Farm
Large operational wind farms (>5MW) in New Zealand.

As of December 2020, New Zealand had an installed wind generation capacity of 690 MW. In the 2020 calendar year, wind power produced 2,282 GWh of electricity, 5.5 percent of the country's electricity generation that year.[3]

A further 2,500 MW of wind farms have received resource consent.[4]

The New Zealand Wind Energy Association predicts that wind could reach 20 percent of New Zealand's annual generation by 2035.[5]

Wind potential

This demonstration wind turbine in Brooklyn, Wellington, was New Zealand's first turbine. It has since been upgraded. It was in operation for 22 years from 1993 to 2015.

New Zealand has outstanding wind resources, due to its position astride the Roaring Forties, resulting in nearly continuous strong westerly winds over many locations, unimpeded by other nearby landmasses at similar latitude.[6] One study found that using 1% of total available land for wind farms would produce approximately 100,000 gigawatt hours (GWh) per year.[7]

Coping with intermittency

Wind farms partner well with hydro plants on the same grid to create combined power plants, because hydro plants can be uprated with extra turbine units to provide highly dispatchable peak generating capacity above the average flows of their rivers, at lower cost than other peak power options.[8]

List of operating wind farms

Only wind turbines and farms over 5 MW generating capacity are listed. Individual demonstration and prototype wind turbines have been installed at Southbridge in Canterbury,[9] Gebbies Pass near Christchurch and Brooklyn in Wellington. Many small windmills serve as windpumps on New Zealand farms.

NameCommissionedOperatorRegionNumber of turbinesInstalled capacity
(MW)		Annual average
generation (GWh)[10]		Coordinates
Flat Hill[11]2015 (September)[12]Pioneer EnergySouthland86.846°35′S 168°17′E / 46.583°S 168.283°E / -46.583; 168.283 (Flat Hill Wind Farm)
Hau Nui1997NZ WindfarmsSouth Wairarapa158.652241°22′S 175°29′E / 41.367°S 175.483°E / -41.367; 175.483 (Hau Nui Wind Farm)
Harapaki2023[13]Meridian EnergyHawke's Bay41[14]176[14]39°11′2″S 176°41′35″E / 39.18389°S 176.69306°E / -39.18389; 176.69306 (Harapaki Wind Farm)
Kaiwera Downs2023[15]Mercury EnergySouthland104314846°14′29″S 169°3′21″E / 46.24139°S 169.05583°E / -46.24139; 169.05583 (Kaiwera Downs Wind Farm)
Mahinerangi2011 (March)Mercury EnergyOtago123610545°45′S 169°54′E / 45.750°S 169.900°E / -45.750; 169.900 (Mahinerangi Wind Farm)
Mill Creek2014 (May)[16]Meridian EnergyWellington2659.841°13′S 174°44′E / 41.217°S 174.733°E / -41.217; 174.733 (Mill Creek Wind Farm)
Mt Stuart[17]2011 (December)Pioneer EnergyOtago97.6546°4′S 169°46′E / 46.067°S 169.767°E / -46.067; 169.767 (Mt Stuart Wind Farm)
Tararua1999–2007Mercury EnergyManawatū13416165040°21′S 175°47′E / 40.350°S 175.783°E / -40.350; 175.783 (Tararua Wind Farm)
Te Āpiti2004Meridian EnergyManawatū559125840°18′S 175°48′E / 40.300°S 175.800°E / -40.300; 175.800 (Te Apiti Wind Farm)
Te Rere Hau2006–11NZ WindfarmsManawatū9748.540°23′S 175°43′E / 40.383°S 175.717°E / -40.383; 175.717 (Te Rere Hau Wind Farm)
Te Uku2011WEL Networks / Meridian EnergyWaikato2864.437°53′S 174°58′E / 37.883°S 174.967°E / -37.883; 174.967 (Te Uku Wind Farm)
Turitea[18]2021 (northern stage)

2023 (southern stage)

 Mercury EnergyManawatū60220[13]40°26′28″S 175°40′17″E / 40.44111°S 175.67139°E / -40.44111; 175.67139 (Turitea Wind Farm)
Waipipi 2020 (November) [19] Mercury EnergySouth Taranaki 31 133.3 455 39°47′S 174°33′E / 39.783°S 174.550°E / -39.783; 174.550 (Waipipi Wind Farm)
Project West Wind2009Meridian EnergyWellington62142.655041°17′S 174°40′E / 41.283°S 174.667°E / -41.283; 174.667 (Project West Wind)
White Hill2007Meridian EnergySouthland295820045°45′S 168°16′E / 45.750°S 168.267°E / -45.750; 168.267 (White Hill Wind Farm)

Meridian Energy also operates a 1 MW wind farm on Ross Island, Antarctica. It is not included in the above list as it does not contribute electricity to the New Zealand national electricity network.[20][21]

Proposed and under construction

NameOperator LocationProjected capacity (MW) StatusCommentsCoordinates
Jericho Wind FarmPioneer Energy Southland35 Proposed[22]Referral accepted to fast track[23]45°43′59″S 167°41′22″E / 45.73306°S 167.68944°E / -45.73306; 167.68944
Castle Hill Wind FarmGenesis 300 Consented (expires 2031)[24] 40°43′0″S 175°56′0″E / 40.71667°S 175.93333°E / -40.71667; 175.93333 (Castle Hill)
Glen MasseyVentus Energy 150Proposed
HapuakoheManawa Energy Waikato230Proposed[25]
HokonuiHokonui Energy 350Proposed[26]
KaihikuPioneer Energy / Manawa Energy South Otago300 Proposed[27][28]On fast-track list46°16′3.66″S 169°26′33.74″E / 46.2676833°S 169.4427056°E / -46.2676833; 169.4427056
KaimaiVentus Energy 157 Applied for Consent[29]On fast-track list37°26′53.06″S 175°41′7.33″E / 37.4480722°S 175.6853694°E / -37.4480722; 175.6853694
KaiwaikaweMercury Energy Northland77 Under construction[30]35°52′8.6″S 173°43′50.85″E / 35.869056°S 173.7307917°E / -35.869056; 173.7307917 (Kaiwaikawe Wind Farm)
Kaiwera Downs (stage 2)Mercury Energy Southland185Under construction 46°14′29″S 169°3′21″E / 46.24139°S 169.05583°E / -46.24139; 169.05583 (Kaiwera Downs Wind Farm)
Kohi RdNZ Windfarms 366 Proposed[31]
KurowAquila Capital 130[31] Proposed[32]Up to 24 turbines
Mahinerangi (stage 2)Mercury Energy Otago160 ConsentedOn fast-track list45°45′38″S 169°54′18″E / 45.76056°S 169.90500°E / -45.76056; 169.90500 (Mahinerangi Wind Farm)
MākākahiKākāriki Renewables Tararua86Proposed[33]
MangapapaMamaku Renewables 450 Proposed[31]
Mount CassYinson 93 ConsentedAs of 2024, project status is unclear after an investing company pulled out.[34]43°4′30″S 172°50′15″E / 43.07500°S 172.83750°E / -43.07500; 172.83750 (Mount Cass Wind Farm)
Mount Munro Meridian Energy 90 Consented[35] 40°41′40″S 175°41′36″E / 40.69444°S 175.69333°E / -40.69444; 175.69333
OtotokaManawa Energy Whanganui150Proposed[36]
PahiatuaYinson renewables Tararua56 Consented (expires 2035)[37] 40°26′42″S 175°45′37″E / 40.44500°S 175.76028°E / -40.44500; 175.76028
Project HuriwakaManawa Energy 300 Proposed[38]39°31′52.02″S 175°48′25.7″E / 39.5311167°S 175.807139°E / -39.5311167; 175.807139
PuketoiMercury Energy 310 Consented (expires 2031)[39][40]40°32′23″S 176°3′23″E / 40.53972°S 176.05639°E / -40.53972; 176.05639
RatahiwiAquila Capital 90 Proposed[31]
RuarangiAquila Capital 120 Proposed[31]
SantoftYinson Renewables 350 Proposed[31]
Southland (also formerly called "Slopedown") Contact Energy 330 Consented[41]
TaumatatotaraVentus Energy 32 ConsentedApplication for variation.[42]38°14′22.93″S 174°49′37.52″E / 38.2397028°S 174.8270889°E / -38.2397028; 174.8270889
VernonManawa Energy 100 Proposed[31]
WaikokowaiMercury Energy Waikato300 Proposed[43]On fast-track list
Waiuku[44]LET Capital 80 Consent declined[45] 37°19′57.12″S 174°41′18.04″E / 37.3325333°S 174.6883444°E / -37.3325333; 174.6883444
Waiinu Energy ParkMeridian South Taranaki / Whanganui Proposed[46]39°50′35″S 174°44′20″E / 39.843°S 174.739°E / -39.843; 174.739
Te Rere Hau (repowering) NZ Windfarms Manawatū 121 (net) Consented Remove the 97 two-blade, 47m-high turbines already there and replace them with 30 three-blade, 162m-high turbines. 40°23′S 175°43′E / 40.383°S 175.717°E / -40.383; 175.717 (Te Rere Hau Wind Farm)
Aokautere Extension NZ Windfarms Manawatū 45 Consented[47] Extend the Te Rere Hau wind farm footprint to the northwest, into the Ernslaw forestry block. If successful, would be able to install up to nine new wind turbines of 5MW each capacity.

Abandoned

NameOperatorProjected capacity (MW)CommentsCoordinates
Hauāuru mā rakiContact Energy540Abandoned[48]37°34′4″S 174°48′18″E / 37.56778°S 174.80500°E / -37.56778; 174.80500 (Hauauru ma raki)
Project HayesMeridian Energy630Abandoned in January 201245°30′39″S 169°53′3″E / 45.51083°S 169.88417°E / -45.51083; 169.88417 (Project Hayes)
Project HurunuiMeridian Energy71 Consents lapsed in 2023[49]42°59′33″S 172°57′32″E / 42.992595°S 172.958794°E / -42.992595; 172.958794
Long GullyWindflow Technology12.5Consents lapsed41°19′36″S 174°43′4″E / 41.32667°S 174.71778°E / -41.32667; 174.71778 (Long Gully Wind Farm)
Maungatua Wind Farm[50][51]Windpower Maungatua25Abandoned[52]
Motorimu Wind Farm[53]Motorimu Wind Farm108Consents surrendered[54]
Project Gumfields[55]Meridian Energy99No consents, apparently abandoned
PuketiroRES NZ150No consents, apparently abandoned41°06′S 174°54′E / 41.100°S 174.900°E / -41.100; 174.900 (Puketiro Wind Farm)
RototunaMeridian Energy500No consents, abandoned[56]36°15′0″S 174°1′48″E / 36.25000°S 174.03000°E / -36.25000; 174.03000 (Rototuna Wind Farm)
Taharoa Wind Farm[57]Taharoa C100Consents lapsed[58]
WaitahoraContact Energy177Consents lapsed, abandoned[59]40°21′44″S 176°10′24″E / 40.36222°S 176.17333°E / -40.36222; 176.17333 (Waitahora Wind Farm)

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Wind power sets new records". Electricity Authority. 23 November 2023. Retrieved 30 July 2024.
  2. ↑ Bradley, Grant Bradley, Grant (7 June 2011). "Wellington winds too windy for wind farm". The New Zealand Herald. ISSN 1170-0777. Retrieved 25 March 2018.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  3. ↑ "Energy in New Zealand 2021". MBIE. August 2021. Retrieved 31 December 2021.
  4. ↑ "New Zealand's wind farms". New Zealand Wind Energy Association. Archived from the original on 4 June 2019. Retrieved 5 June 2019.
  5. ↑ "Wind Energy to be 20% of NZ Generation by 2035". New Zealand Wind Energy Association. Retrieved 5 June 2019.
  6. ↑ "New Zealand wind resource". New Zealand Wind Energy Association. 10 January 2008. Archived from the original on 10 January 2008. Retrieved 8 August 2008.
  7. ↑ "New Zealand's Wind Resource". New Zealand Wind Energy Association. Archived from the original on 20 March 2007. Retrieved 8 March 2008.
  8. ↑ "Hydroelectric Power" (PDF). United States Bureau of Reclamation. Retrieved 13 October 2008.
  9. ↑ New Zealand Wind Energy Association – Southbridge Wind Turbine Archived 4 July 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  10. ↑ "List of Generating Stations". New Zealand Electricity Authority. November 2010. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 25 January 2011.
  11. ↑ "Flat Hill". New Zealand Wind Energy Association. Retrieved 14 August 2015.
  12. ↑ MCleod, Hannah (1 September 2015). "New Bluff wind farm can power 2500 homes". Stuff. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
  13. 1 2 "Harapaki, NZ's 2nd-biggest wind farm, goes fully operational". New Zealand Herald. 19 July 2024. Retrieved 20 July 2024.
  14. 1 2 "Harapaki wind farm". Meridian Energy. Retrieved 20 July 2024.
  15. ↑ "Mercury opens Kaiwera Downs wind farm near Gore". Stuff. 21 November 2023. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
  16. ↑ "Meridian's new windfarm open". Dominion-Post. 8 January 2015. Retrieved 14 August 2015.
  17. ↑ "Proposed Mt Stuart Windfarm Information". Clutha District Council. Archived from the original on 1 March 2009. Retrieved 6 February 2009.
  18. ↑ Cook, Alexa (8 May 2021). "First stage of Mercury's Turitea Wind Farm to be switched on in October after year-long delay". Newshub. Archived from the original on 8 May 2021. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
  19. ↑ "Wind power blows in to South Taranaki". Stuff. 17 November 2020. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
  20. ↑ "Ross Island wind farm". New Zealand Wind Energy Association. Archived from the original on 17 November 2013. Retrieved 15 February 2009.
  21. ↑ "McCully opens Antarctic wind farm". The New Zealand Herald. 16 January 2010. Retrieved 16 January 2010.
  22. ↑ Rachel Kelly (1 December 2022). "Southern Generation proposes to build a wind farm at Southland's Jericho Station". Stuff. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
  23. ↑ "Referral application for Jericho Wind Farm". www.epa.govt.nz. Retrieved 25 April 2025.
  24. ↑ "Wind farm halves in size". Wairarapa Times-Age. 28 October 2023. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
  25. ↑ "Hapuakohe Wind Farm". Manawa Energy. Retrieved 25 April 2024.
  26. ↑ "Proposed wind farm aims for fast track". Otago Daily Times. 20 May 2026. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  27. ↑ "Plan for large South Otago wind farm". Otago Daily Times. 28 October 2023. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
  28. ↑ "Proposal for South Otago wind farm unveiled". Stuff. 27 October 2023. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
  29. ↑ Lawrence Gullery (28 September 2018). "Wind farm's towering turbines worry nearby Te Aroha residents". Stuff. Retrieved 17 June 2021.
  30. ↑ "Kaiwaikawe Wind Farm takes next steps to power 27,000 homes with NZ's tallest turbines". Northern Advocate. 29 March 2025. Retrieved 29 March 2025.
  31. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Fast Track Projects Advisory Group: Report to Ministers" (PDF). Ministry for the Environment. 2 August 2024. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
  32. ↑ "Wind farm considered for Kurow". Energy Central. 4 October 2024. Retrieved 8 October 2024.
  33. ↑ Janine Rankin (1 June 2026). "Tararua's wind attracts more renewable energy plans". Manawatū Standard. Retrieved 2 June 2026.
  34. ↑ Ian Allen (19 July 2024). "Plans for massive wind farm on South Island ridgeline up in air". Marlborough Express. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
  35. ↑ Kate Judson (19 February 2025). "Win for renewable energy". Wairarapa Times-Age. Retrieved 19 February 2025.
  36. ↑ "Ototoka Wind Farm". Manawa Energy. Retrieved 25 April 2024.
  37. ↑ "Scaled-back Pahīatua Wind Farm approved". Manawatū Standard. 4 November 2025. Retrieved 4 November 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  38. ↑ "Manawa gains rights to develop 230MW Central NI wind farm". New Zealand Herald. 2 May 2023. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
  39. ↑ Janine Rankin (5 June 2013). "Puketoi wind farm gets final go-ahead". Stuff. Retrieved 27 June 2021.
  40. ↑ Janine Rankin (18 March 2023). "Winding road to turbine sites provides lessons for next wind farm projects". Stuff. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
  41. ↑ "NZ's 'largest wind farm' gets fast-track approval after previous refusal". The Press. 2 April 2026. Retrieved 2 April 2026.
  42. ↑ "Wind farm proposed near Taharoa". Stuff. 2 April 2023. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  43. ↑ Matthew Martin (10 October 2024). "Two fast-tracked wind farms for the Waikato". Waikato Times. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
  44. ↑ "Waiuku locals 'blindsided' by wind farm project". RNZ. 8 September 2023. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
  45. ↑ "Waiuku Wind Farm: The decision". Environmental Protection Authority. 20 August 2024. Retrieved 20 August 2024.
  46. ↑ "Meridian Energy planning 5000ha solar and wind park northwest of Whanganui". New Zealand Herald. 22 May 2025. Retrieved 23 May 2025.
  47. ↑ Janine Rankin (26 August 2024). "Consent granted for Te Rere Hau wind farm extension". Stuff. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
  48. ↑ "Windfarm backtrack has heavy cost". Stuff. 21 August 2013. Retrieved 27 June 2021.
  49. ↑ Meridian Energy Limited v Hurunui District Council [2013] NZEnvC 261 (4 November 2013) https://www.nzlii.org/cgi-bin/sinodisp/nz/cases/NZEnvC/2013/261.html "In accordance with section 125(1) of the Resource Management Act 1991, this resource consent will lapse if not given effect to within ten years of commencement."
  50. ↑ "Mt Maungatua wind-farm proposal grows 25%". Otago Daily Times. 15 July 2008.
  51. ↑ 6 month report to 31 December 2008, NZ Windfarms Limited, 2 March 2009. Quote: "the WindPower Maungatua wind farm ... is now unlikely to proceed in the near future, if at all".
  52. ↑ "Wind farm development abandoned". Otago Daily Times. 29 August 2009.
  53. ↑ "Notice of Decision" (PDF). Joint Hearings Commissioners. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 March 2009. Retrieved 14 February 2009.
  54. ↑ Miller, Grant (25 August 2009). "Wind farm idea off table as liquidators surrender consent". The Manawatu Standard.
  55. ↑ "Windfarm investigation blows on". Northern News. 9 October 2007. Retrieved 3 December 2011.
  56. ↑ "Kaipara settlement trust joins one billion tree scheme". 5 April 2019. Retrieved 5 July 2023.
  57. ↑ NZPA (2 February 2006). "Three wind farms planned for Waikato". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 22 March 2011.
  58. ↑ "Taharoa". New Zealand Wind Energy Association. Retrieved 27 June 2021.
  59. ↑ McKay, Christine (31 August 2016). "Surprise at windfarm consent expiry". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
  • New Zealand Wind Energy Association
  • "Carbon neutral wind energy can close off nuclear option" (PDF). New Zealand Wind Energy Association. 13 September 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 August 2008. Retrieved 13 September 2008.
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