Meridian Energy (a New Zealand electricity generator and retailer) has obtained the last major resource consent needed to proceed with the repowering of its Te Rere Hau Wind Farm in Manawatū, clearing a critical hurdle for what will be New Zealand's first wind farm repowering project.

Consent Resolves Complex Relocation Issue

The consent, granted by Palmerston North City Council, was required to accommodate the relocation of an Airways communication facility to a new site. Meridian described the matter as a complex issue that had taken longer than anticipated to resolve. Additional consents are still required for minor road upgrades, but those are considered secondary to the now-secured primary approval.

Meridian Chief Executive Mike Roan acknowledged the significance of the milestone. "It's been a complex issue to resolve, and one that has taken longer than we would have liked, so this is a special moment for the project and for our team," he said.

A Site With Exceptional Wind Resource

Te Rere Hau Wind Farm is located near Palmerston North on the Tararua Ranges, a region regarded as one of New Zealand's premier wind generation sites. The existing facility operates 91 small turbines with a combined generation capacity of 45.5 MW.

Roan pointed to the quality of the site as a central reason behind Meridian's acquisition of NZ Windfarms in 2025, the transaction through which the company took ownership of Te Rere Hau.

"Wind generation plays an important role in our energy portfolio, helping to preserve hydro storage, and this is one of the country's best wind sites," Roan said. "It was the key driver behind our acquisition of NZ Windfarms in 2025, and we can now look forward to realising that potential."

Scale of the Repowering Project

The repowering plan involves replacing the existing 91 small turbines with up to 40 new turbines capable of generating up to 172 MW of electricity. That represents a dramatic increase in output from the site.

Meridian says the repowered wind farm is expected to generate seven times the annual energy production of the current facility, making the transformation one of the most significant upgrades to an existing wind energy asset in New Zealand's history.

The project is also notable for its place in the country's energy development record. Meridian has described it as New Zealand's first wind farm repowering project, setting a precedent for how aging wind infrastructure might be upgraded rather than decommissioned as the country's fleet of first-generation turbines reaches the end of its operational life.

Investment Decision Expected in Early 2027

Despite the consent achievement, a final investment decision has not yet been made. Meridian's Board is expected to consider that decision in early 2027. However, the company is not waiting idly in the interim. Work has already commenced on upgrading access roads to the Te Rere Hau site, a deliberate strategy to compress the overall construction timeline once a formal commitment is made.

Roan explained the logic behind starting preparatory work before the board has signed off on full investment. "Getting this work underway ahead of a final investment decision means we can get off to a flying start, compressing our construction timeline and getting these megawatts into the energy system as soon as we possibly can," he said.

Strategic Role in Meridian's Energy Portfolio

Meridian's interest in accelerating the Te Rere Hau repowering reflects the broader role wind generation plays in the company's overall energy strategy. As a predominantly hydroelectric generator, Meridian relies on wind capacity to complement its hydro assets, particularly during periods when reservoir storage needs to be conserved. Increasing wind output at a high-quality site like Te Rere Hau directly supports that operational objective.

The announcement was made on 31 July 2026 and authorised for release by Jason Woolley, General Counsel and Company Secretary of Meridian Energy Limited.

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