News release from Greater Wellington Regional Council
16 May 2006
Tenders called for Puketiro wind farm
Seven companies have been invited to tender to build a proposed wind farm on Greater Wellington Regional Council land at
Puketiro, 37km north of central Wellington.
Greater Wellington, with advice from PricewaterhouseCoopers, selected the companies after receiving ten expressions of
interest to develop a wind farm.
Chris Laidlaw, Greater Wellington Landcare Committee chairman says, “We have been investigating the harnessing of wind
power as a contribution to energy self-sufficiency of the region. The Puketiro site is a very good one for its wind
potential and low environmental impact.”
A wind farm development at Puketiro could provide the region with at least 26MW (megawatts) of energy, but potentially
more than this if turbines on private land adjacent to the land owned by Greater Wellington are included.
The seven companies invited to tender are: Meridian Energy, TrustPower Ltd, Contact Energy Ltd, Acciona Energy, RES
Southern Cross Pty Ltd, Mighty River Power Ltd and Genesis Energy. Five of the companies are from New Zealand and two
are from Australia.
It will cost around $50 million to develop a 26MW wind farm. The wind farm will be paid for by the developer selected by
Greater Wellington.
“Public consultation a year ago gave us the support to make the land available for a potential wind farm. Tenders are
expected to close in September and a contract concluded with the successful developer by the end of the year. The
developer can proceed with plans and apply for resource consents. This will provide another opportunity for public
input,” Cr Laidlaw says.
A wind farm could be built by 2009/10.
ENDS