KAIWAIKAWE WIND FARM

Turbines: 12 Vestas V162, 6.4MW
Turbine tip height: 206m
Tower height: 125m
Rotor diameter: 162m
Transmission Connection: 66kV from wind farm to Dargaville substation
Investment: NZ$287m*
Expected annual generation: 221 GWh

Kaiwaikawe Wind Farm is 12 km north-west of Dargaville and 3 km inland from the Tasman Sea. Its 12 turbines are arranged in two clusters: seven in the north and five in the south.

These are the first Vestas V162-6.4 MW turbines built in New Zealand, and the largest and tallest wind turbines in Aotearoa.

The wind farm connects to Northpower’s substation near Dargaville, then to the national grid at Maungatapere.

All 12 turbines have been installed, with electricity first generated in July 2026. Final commissioning, testing, site rehabilitation and removal of construction facilities will continue through to early 2027.

Once fully commissioned, the wind farm is expected to generate 221 GWh of renewable electricity a year — enough to power more than 31,000 average New Zealand homes.*

Community

We've set up a Community Consultative Group to meet regularly and be a point of contact for local residents. We are committed to listening to you and working with you to ensure community issues are addressed. If you’re interested in joining this group, please let us know by email.  

Please email us at kaiwaikawewindfarm@mercury.co.nz with any questions or to sign up for regular project updates.

* Based on average household electricity use of 7,000 kWh a year.