KAIWERA DOWNS WIND FARM
Kaiwera Downs wind farm is located 12km north-west of Gore in the South Island.
Stage 1
Stage 1 of the Kaiwera Downs Windfarm was completed in November 2023. It generates enough energy to power the equivalent of 20,000 homes.
Turbines: 10 Vestas V136-4.3 MW wind turbines
Installed capacity: 43MW
Average annual output: 146 GWh
Tower height: 77m
Blade tip height: 145m
Rotor diameter: 136m
Transmission line: 18km of 33kV transmission line
Investment: NZ$ 115 million
Stage 2
Construction of Stage 2 of the windfarm commenced in June 2024, to add 36 new turbines and increase installed capacity from the current 43MW to 198MW.
Turbines: 36 Vestas V136-4.3MW
Installed capacity when complete: 155MW
Hub height: 88m
Blade tip height: 156m
Rotor diameter: 136m
Transmission line: 4km of 220kV line to the Transpower network
Investment: NZ$ 486 million
Download the Kaiwera Downs Wind Farm Stage 2 Factsheet (PDF)
Kaiwera Downs Community Fund
The Kaiwera Downs community fund is available annually to support groups and projects neighbouring the windfarm.
Find out more about the community fund.
Newsroom
Kaiwera Downs Wind Farm Newsletter - April 2026 (PDF)
Kaiwera Downs Wind Farm Newsletter - December 2025 (PDF)
Kaiwera Downs Wind Farm Newsletter - September 2025 (PDF)
Kaiwera Downs Wind Farm Newsletter - April 2025 (PDF)
Kaiwera Downs Stage 2 Announcement - June 2024 (News Release)
Kaiwera Downs Wind Farm Newsletter - November 2023 (PDF)
Wind Farm opens a year on from groundbreaking - 20 November 2023 (News Release)
Kaiwera Downs Wind Farm Newsletter - July 2023 (PDF)
Kaiwera Downs Wind Farm Newsletter - May 2023 (PDF)
Spades in the ground for new Southland wind farm - 3 November 2022 (News Release)
Feedback or questions?
Contact us at kaiweradownswindfarm@mercury.co.nz or call us 0800 201 520.