Mahinerangi Wind Farm – Stage 2 approved under Fast-track Approvals Act

ChanceryGreen is delighted to have assisted Mercury in securing approvals for Mahinerangi Wind Farm – Stage 2 (Puke Kapo Hau) under the Fast-track Approvals Act 2024. This marks another significant milestone in a project our team has been involved with for two decades.

Our involvement with Mahinerangi Wind Farm began in 2006/2007, when we assisted in obtaining the original resource consents for the wind farm. Those consents provided for up to 100 turbines with an installed generating capacity of 200MW. Stage 1 of the development, comprising 12 turbines with an installed capacity of 36MW, was commissioned in 2011.

Nearly 20 years after the original consents were secured, we are pleased to have assisted with obtaining approvals for a variation to those consents, as well as several new consents, to enable development of the balance of the wind farm. The approved variation to the existing consents will accommodate advances in wind generation technology, including larger and more efficient turbines, ensuring the project can maximise the renewable energy potential of the site.

The approvals enable the construction of 44 additional turbines with an installed capacity of up to 190MW, capable of generating approximately 550GWh of renewable electricity each year – enough to power the equivalent of around 78,000 average New Zealand homes annually. The approvals also authorise the construction of associated infrastructure, including a new 110kV transmission line, a substation, and a Battery Energy Storage System to support the efficient integration of renewable generation into the electricity network, together with wildlife approvals.

The Expert Panel considered that the Mahinerangi Wind Farm promotes the purpose of the Fast-track Approvals Act 2024 because it will deliver infrastructure with significant regional and national benefits.

The Mahinerangi Wind Farm represents another important step towards strengthening New Zealand's renewable electricity generation and supporting the country's energy security and decarbonisation objectives.

This outcome reflects a significant collaborative effort involving experts across a range of technical disciplines and the project team.

We look forward to seeing Stage 2 of the Mahinerangi Wind Farm become a reality and the long-term contribution it will make to New Zealand's renewable energy future.