Te Rere Hau Wind Farm

Te Rere Hau Wind Farm

Te Rere Hau is a wind farm owned and operated by New Zealand Windfarms Ltd. It is situated on the Tararua Ranges, approximately 11 km east of Palmerston North in New Zealand.

In 2003, New Zealand Windfarms were assisted by the New Zealand government under the Projects to Reduce Emissions program and were issued with Kyoto Protocol emission units for the proposal on the grounds that it would reduce emissions of greenhouse gases.

The first stage was officially opened in September 2006 by RT Hon Helen Clark and it consisted of five 500 kW turbines. Stage 2 (28 turbines) and Stage 3 (32 turbines) were completed in 2009. The final Stage 4 (32 turbines) was completed in 2011. In total Te Rere Hau has 97 wind turbines with a generating capacity of 48.5 MW, which is enough to power approximately 18,000 local households.

The Windflow 500 turbines, made in New Zealand by Windflow Technology, stand 30 metres high with a rotor diameter of 33 metres. They have a two bladed design, making them easily distinguishable from those of the nearby Tararua and Te Apiti wind farms.

Te Rere Hau is the first commercial wind farm in the country to use locally manufactured wind turbines. By using turbines that have been designed and made in New Zealand, over 90% of the project cost stays in the country.

In July 2012, after frequent complaints over noise, the Environment Court ruled that NZ Windfarms was in breach of noise limits stated in its resource consent and that the noise predictions supplied by NZ Windfarms in the resource consent application were wrong. Palmerston North City Council CEO Paddy Clifford stated "we can start working towards a resolution with NZ Windfarms".