ENERGY

Mahinerangi Wind Farm Stage 2 (Puke Kapo Hau)

Mercury NZ (NZX-listed, majority state-owned) · Otago

Stage 2 of the Mahinerangi wind farm west of Dunedin (Stage 1, 36MW, commissioned 2011), gifted the name Puke Kapo Hau. Up to 44 modern turbines, down from an earlier 100-turbine consent, plus a 110kV line, a substation and a 60MW battery, for up to 190MW installed. Fast-track approved on 3 July 2026, the sixth renewable energy project through that process. Construction still needs Mercury board approval. Estimated ~$550m (indicative).

Mixed signals Data: High

Delivery Confidence Score, 0 to 100, higher is better: a ranking of how strong this project's delivery signals are, not a probability. It blends eight factors, including the election risk and policy alignment shown below.

Breakdown▾

Data current as at 13 Jun 2026, when the pipeline was last checked against its source.

Key facts

Region: Otago
Sector: Energy
Status: Planning
Estimated value: $550m
Indicative completion: 2030
Funding status: No Source
Lead organisation: Mercury NZ (NZX-listed, majority state-owned)
Election risk: Safe

Election risk assessment

Commercial renewable investment, broadly bipartisan. Fast-track approval granted July 2026; construction is not yet board-approved, so timing is uncertain.

Government priority alignment

HIGH: New wind generation supporting the renewable-electricity transition.

Chronology

2011Stage 1 (36MW) commissioned
2025Fast-track application lodged for the Stage 2 expansion
2026Expert panel issues draft decision and conditions (June)
2026Fast-track approval granted (3 July); construction subject to Mercury board approval

Source

Mercury ↗ · Fast-track Approvals: Mahinerangi Wind Farm ↗ · Beehive: Sixth renewable energy project fast-tracked (3 Jul 2026) ↗

View Mahinerangi Wind Farm Stage 2 (Puke Kapo Hau) on the live map →