Meridian Energy has received the key remaining resource consent from Palmerston North City Council that enables the 172 MW repowering of its Te Rere Hau Wind Farm in Manawatū. This consent was required to accommodate the relocation of an Airways communication facility to a new site. Additional consents are required for minor road upgrades.
“It’s been a complex issue to resolve, and one that has taken longer than we would have liked, so this is a special moment for the project and for our team,” says Meridian Chief Executive Mike Roan.
“Wind generation plays an important role in our energy portfolio, helping to preserve hydro storage, and this is one of the country’s best wind sites. It was the key driver behind our acquisition of NZ Windfarms in 2025, and we can now look forward to realising that potential.”
Te Rere Hau wind farm is located near Palmerston North on the Tararua Ranges. It has 91 small turbines with generation capacity of 45.5 MW.
When approved, the repowering project will involve the construction and operation of up to 40 new turbines, with generation capacity of up to 172 MW. It is New Zealand’s first wind farm repowering project and is expected to generate seven times the annual energy production of the existing wind farm. A final investment decision is expected from the Meridian Board in early 2027, but work is already underway on upgrading access roads to the site.
“Getting this work underway ahead of a final investment decision means we can get off to a flying start, compressing our construction timeline and getting these megawatts into the energy system as soon as we possibly can,” says Mike Roan.