An expansion of the Māhinerangi Wind Farm in Otago has received fast-track approval.
Tararua Wind Power Limited applied in November 2025 to expand the existing wind farm, located near Eldorado Track. The facility sits roughly 50 kilometres to the west of Dunedin and 5 kilometres to the north of Lake Māhinerangi and has been operating since 2011.
The Stage 2 development, named Puke Kapo Hau, will add approximately 44 turbines to the site. New infrastructure includes a 110kV transmission line, a substation, and a 60MW battery energy storage system that can supply electricity for up to 2 hours during peak demand periods.
Once complete, the wind farm will have total installed capacity of up to 190MW and is expected to generate around 550GWh annually, equivalent to powering approximately 68,000 homes. The independent expert panel completed the approval process in 4.5 months.