UPDATE
Turitea Wind Farm marks two years of high output, local impact, and environmental gains
Turitea Wind Farm produced about 2.5% of New Zealand's renewable energy over 12 months to June 2025. Photo: Stephen Wells
New Zealand’s largest wind farm has just marked two years of full generation, delivering impressive performance stats and a boost to the nation’s renewable energy supply.
Turitea Wind Farm, in the Tararua Range near Palmerston North, was commissioned by Mercury in May 2023.
The 60-turbine wind farm is connected by more than 35km of new roads across 11 different landowners’ sites.
It has an installed capacity of 221 MW, and it has generated about 1600 GWh of electricity during its first two years of operation.
That’s enough to power about 100,000 average homes for each of those first two years.
For the 12 months to June 2025, the wind farm produced about 2.5% of New Zealand’s 34.8TWh of renewable energy generation.
Its highest performing turbine has so far generated 55,000 MWh on its own, enough energy for about 8000 average homes in one year.
More than 35kms of roads were built to connect the turbines. Photo: Stephen Wells
The site availability, that’s the time the wind farm has been able to generate electricity considering wind conditions and grid connectivity, is very high at 98%. High availability is important for maximising energy production.
The wind farm was built in an area where there are some of the toughest wind conditions in the world.
Since commissioning, the site has recorded a maximum 1 hour average wind speeds of more than 130 km/h with gusts significantly higher, up to 180 km/h.
The turbines’ tip height is 125m with each of the three blades weighing around 12 tonnes.
The 55m blades complete about 17 rotations per minute, which might seem slow, but because they’re so large, the tips can reach speeds of 250 km/h.
Mercury’s Head of Operations-Generation, Matt Kedian, said Turitea had produced some fantastic results; it was helping to increase the level of renewable energy for the country but also provide opportunities and support for local communities.
The tips of the turbines can reach speeds of 250 km/h. Photo: Stephen Wells
“We had about 140 people employed to build the wind farm at peak construction.
“Operating and maintaining a wind farm of this size requires a full-time site-based staff of around 12 people including a 24/7 callout service.
“That’s why we are heavily dependent on the workforce in the communities where we operate our wind farms.
“Many local people are upskilled and are brought into the wind industry.”
“The fund is open from 12 October to 12 November each year and a panel of local people and Mercury team members select which applications to support.”
Mr Kedian said there had been significant environmental and conservation efforts made at the wind farm.
“There were 30,000 native species planted around the site as part of the construction phase.
“And this month (June 2025) a major project has begun to add another 40,000 plants to the wind farm environment.
“We’ve employed contractors right through to plant procurement in partnership with the local iwi, Rangitāne, to complete the work.”
There will be ongoing work to remove pest plants and weeds throughout the site.
“This year we will finalise the water quality monitoring that started when construction began in 2019. The data we have to date shows no impact from the work completed on the wind farm.”