Kaiwera Downs wind farm is located 12km north-west of Gore in the South Island.
Stage 1 of the Kaiwera Downs Windfarm was completed in November 2023. It generates enough energy to power the equivalent of 20,000 homes. Turbines: 10 Vestas V136-4.3 MW wind turbines Installed capacity: 43MW Average annual output: 146 GWh Tower height: 77m Blade tip height: 145m Rotor diameter: 136m Transmission line: 18km of 33kV transmission line Investment: NZ$ 115 million
Construction of Stage 2 of the windfarm commenced in June 2024, to add 36 new turbines and increase installed capacity from the current 43MW to 198MW. Turbines: 36 Vestas V136-4.3MW Installed capacity when complete: 155MW Hub height: 88m Blade tip height: 156m Rotor diameter: 136m Transmission line: 4km of 220kV line to the Transpower network Investment: NZ$ 486 million
Download the Kaiwera Downs Wind Farm Stage 2 Factsheet (PDF)
The Kaiwera Downs community fund is available annually to support groups and projects neighbouring the windfarm. Find out more about the community fund.
Kaiwera Downs Wind Farm Newsletter - April 2026 (PDF) Kaiwera Downs Wind Farm Newsletter - December 2025 (PDF) Kaiwera Downs Wind Farm Newsletter - September 2025 (PDF) Kaiwera Downs Wind Farm Newsletter - April 2025 (PDF) Kaiwera Downs Stage 2 Announcement - June 2024 (News Release) Kaiwera Downs Wind Farm Newsletter - November 2023 (PDF) Wind Farm opens a year on from groundbreaking - 20 November 2023 (News Release) Kaiwera Downs Wind Farm Newsletter - July 2023 (PDF) Kaiwera Downs Wind Farm Newsletter - May 2023 (PDF) Spades in the ground for new Southland wind farm - 3 November 2022 (News Release)
Contact us at kaiweradownswindfarm@mercury.co.nz or call us 0800 201 520.