TURITEA WIND FARM

The Turitea Wind Farm is the largest wind farm in New Zealand. It is in the Tararua Ranges near Palmerston North.

Turbines: 60 Vestas V112 wind turbines
Maximum capacity: 222 MW
Average annual output: 842 GWh
Commissioned: 2023

There are 60 Vestas V112 wind turbines on the Turitea Wind Farm. The height from ground to tip of blade is 125m.
A new 12km long transmission line connects the wind farm, via two on-site substations, into the National Grid at Transpower’s Linton substation.
The transmission line operates at 220kV. It is constructed using monopoles to support the conductors over farmland, and traditional pylon towers in the Turitea Reserve.

You can view the original consent decision here. 

Ecology

We worked closely with specialist ecologists during all stages of construction, including the original design to minimise the disturbance of indigenous vegetation and fauna where possible. We continue this mahi post-construction to ensure we are doing the right thing.  

Keeping in Touch

We held regular catch up meetings with the community from 2019 until 2025 and we’d like to thank everybody who attended, in particular for the questions and concerns you raised at the start of the construction. However, attendance has declined over the years, signalling that these meetings have run their course as a forum for community engagement. We have agreed with Palmerston North City Council to suspend the consent condition that envisages ongoing meetings until such time as they are called for again.

We’re available by email (turiteawindfarm@mercury.co.nz) and you may also contact the Council directly planning.services@pncc.govt.nz

We are also happy to set up a phone call or face-to-face meeting (with coffee) to hear any questions or concerns.

Manawatū Community Fund

Mercury’s wind farms above Ashhurst and Palmerston North create renewable energy from fresh air, while communities all around us are caring for people, place and future. 

We’ve created a Community Fund to be able to support some of this great work.  

The Mercury Manawatū Community Fund is an annual fund of $30,000 to support organisations and projects that benefit the communities in this region. This fund is open from 1 October to 31 October each year.

Click here to find out more information.