OPERATING
Onshore Windfarms
Aotearoa New Zealand now has 21 fully operational onshore wind farms operating with a total installed capacity of 1,263 MW. They represent over 12% of New Zealand’s total installed generation capacity and generate enough energy to supply over 553,000 New Zealand households a year.
In total, 661 individual wind turbines are generating renewable energy for our country. They range in size from 100kW to 4.3 MW in individual capacity. The geographic diversity of the wind farms lends itself to achieving more sustained energy outputs given that the wind blows in some places, while it doesn’t blow in others. This means that wind energy is almost always contributing to the grid’s needs and energy security requirements in real time.
Below is a table and map showing the operating onshore wind farms, as of October 2024.
The map and table, identifies all ‘grid-scale’ operational wind farms in Aotearoa New Zealand, showing their geographic location, the total installed capacity and number of turbines and the date of their commissioning.
OPERATING
Onshore Wind Farms
Developer: Meridian
Project Name: Te Uku
Commissioned: 2011
Number of Turbines: 28
Capacity (MW): 64
Developer: Meridian Energy
Project Name: Harapaki
Commissioned: 2024
Number of Turbines: 41
Capacity (MW): 176
Developer: Mercury
Project Name: Waipipi
Commissioned: 2021
Number of Turbines: 60
Capacity (MW): 133
Developer: Mercury
Project Name: Tararua (Stage 1)
Commissioned: 1999
Number of Turbines: 48
Capacity (MW): 32
Developer: Mercury
Project Name: Tararua (Stage 2)
Commissioned: 2004
Number of Turbines: 55
Capacity (MW): 36
Developer: Mercury
Project Name: Tararua (Stage 3)
Commissioned: 2007
Number of Turbines: 31
Capacity (MW): 93
Developer: Meridian
Project Name: Te Apiti
Commissioned: 2004
Number of Turbines: 55
Capacity (MW): 91
Developer: NZ Windfarms
Project Name: Te Rere Hau
Commissioned: 2006
Number of Turbines: 97
Capacity (MW): 49
Developer: Mercury
Project Name: Turitea North
Commissioned: 2022
Number of Turbines: 33
Capacity (MW): 119
Developer: Mercury
Project Name: Turitea South
Commissioned: 2023
Number of Turbines: 29
Capacity (MW): 102
Developer: Meridian
Project Name: Brooklyn Wind Turbine
Commissioned: 2016 (repowered)
Number of Turbines: 1
Capacity (MW): 1
Developer: Meridian
Project Name: Mill Creek
Commissioned: 2014
Number of Turbines: 26
Capacity (MW): 60
Developer: Meridian
Project Name: West Wind
Commissioned: 2009
Number of Turbines: 62
Capacity (MW): 143
Developer: Genesis (acquired by NZ Wind Farms Oct 2024)
Project Name: Hau Nui (Stage 1)
Commissioned: 1996
Number of Turbines: 7
Capacity (MW): 4
Developer: Genesis (acquired by NZ Wind Farms Oct 2024)
Project Name: Hau Nui (Stage 2)
Commissioned: 2004
Number of Turbines: 8
Capacity (MW): 5
Developer: Energy 3
Project Name: Lake Grassmere
Commissioned: 2014
Number of Turbines: 1
Capacity (MW): 1
Developer: Energy 3
Project Name: Lulworth
Commissioned: 2011
Number of Turbines: 4
Capacity (MW): 1
Developer: Energy 3
Project Name: Weld Cone
Commissioned: 2010
Number of Turbines: 3
Capacity (MW): 1
Developer: Energy3
Project Name: Southbridge
Commissioned: 2005
Number of Turbines: 1
Capacity (MW): 0.1
Developer: Pioneer Energy
Project Name: Horseshoe Bend
Commissioned: 2009
Number of Turbines: 3
Capacity (MW): 2
Developer: Meridian
Project Name: White Hill
Commissioned: 2007
Number of Turbines: 29
Capacity (MW): 58
Developer: Pioneer Energy
Project Name: Flathill
Commissioned: 2015
Number of Turbines: 8
Capacity (MW): 7
Developer: Mercury
Project Name: Mahinerangi
Commissioned: 2011
Number of Turbines: 12
Capacity (MW): 36
Developer: Pioneer Energy
Project Name: Mt Stuart
Commissioned: 2011
Number of Turbines: 9
Capacity (MW): 8
Developer: Mercury
Project Name: Kaiwera Downs (ph1)
Commissioned: 2023
Number of Turbines: 10
Capacity (MW): 43