Mercury’s Kaiwakawe wind farm sod turning

Energy minister Simon Watts and Mercury chief executive Stew Hamilton ceremoniously broke ground on the $287 million Kaiwaikawe wind farm near Dargaville.

The 77MW (221GWh pe annum) wind farm will generate enough renewable electricity to power about 27,000 homes – equivalent to powering the Far North, says Mercury.

Its turbines measure 206 metres to the top of the rotor blade (the equivalent of two rugby fields).

“Security of supply is the number one priority for the sector right now and one of the biggest ways we can contribute to the solution is by building more renewables quickly,” says Hamilton.

“We currently have $1 billion committed to new renewables, with Kaiwaikawe just one of three renewable projects we have under construction.”

Investing in renewables also supports regional economic growth, including through the creation of more local jobs, says Mercury.

“About 150 people will be working on the Kaiwaikawe site at any one time, with around 300 people working on the project overall,” Hamilton says.

Watts says it’s great to see this renewable energy project move into its next phase.

“New Zealand needs more abundant and affordable renewable energy to keep New Zealand’s households and businesses moving,” he says.

The groundbreaking ceremony was also attended by Northland MP Grant McCallum, Mercury’s delivery partners Vestas, Electronet and Higgins, landowner Pāmu, Kaipara District Council, Te Roroa and community members.

Mercury is opening an annual fund of $30,000 to support local groups and projects in the community in mid-2025, which will operate for the life of the wind farm.

First generation is expected at Kaiwaikawe in mid-2026 and full generation by the end of 2026.

Click here for more information on the Kaiwaikawe wind farm project.