How wind power grew in New Zealand
In March 1993 the Electricity Corporation of New Zealand put up a 225 kW research turbine at Brooklyn, Wellington. Meridian, which took it over in 1999, calls it the country's first viable commercial wind turbine. Hau Nui in the Wairarapa, which Genesis calls New Zealand's first wind farm, started in 1996 with seven Enercon turbines of 550 kW. Tararua followed in 1999 with 32 MW.
Meridian's farms include Te Apiti (2004), West Wind (2009) and Harapaki, 176 MW (2024). Mercury bought Tilt Renewables' New Zealand farms in 2021. Its Turitea farm, 221 MW across two stages, opened in 2022 and 2023. Genesis sold Hau Nui in 2024, as its first turbines neared the end of their lives. Meridian agreed in February 2025 to buy NZ Windfarms and plans to repower Te Rere Hau with up to 170 MW, which would be the country's first repowering.
At the end of 2025 New Zealand had 21 wind farms with 1,265 MW and 661 turbines, and more than 350 MW was being built. Wind generated 4.22 TWh in 2025, 9.74% of electricity. Contact Energy won fast-track consent in April 2026 for its first wind farm, up to 325 MW in Southland, with an investment decision expected in 2027. Parliament passed a law setting up permits for offshore renewable energy on 30 June 2026.
Sources: Meridian Energy · NZ Herald · NZ Wind Energy Association · Scoop · Meridian Energy · Ember · Contact Energy · Russell McVeagh
Where New Zealand's power comes from, 2025
| Source | Share of electricity |
|---|---|
| Hydro | 54.9% |
| Geothermal and other renewables | 21.8% |
| Wind | 9.7% |
| Gas | 8.9% |
| Other fossil fuels | 1.5% |
| Bioenergy | 1.3% |
| Coal | 1.1% |
| Solar | 0.8% |
Wind farms in New Zealand
We track 52 wind farms in New Zealand: 1.2 GW operating and 13.7 GW under construction, consented or planned, with 9.0 GW of it offshore. Each one's owners, turbines and status are in the Wind app.
Electricity data: Ember yearly electricity data (CC BY 4.0). Wind farms: national registers and Global Energy Monitor; see data sources.
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