Seventeen of the proposed 55 turbines have now been commissioned and, with total planned capacity of 90 MW, the Manawatu site is set to be the largest wind farm in the Southern Hemisphere.

The site is expected to supply power over 40% of the time, compared to the international norm of 20-30%.

Hodgson said wind power was enjoying unprecedented growth in New Zealand and was on track for a four-fold increase by next April. Wind could provide over 20% of New Zealand’s electricity needs.

"The prospects for wind have never looked better. There is a consensus that the country needs more generating capacity, wind power is the generation type most preferred by New Zealanders and wholesale power prices are now at a level where a growing number of wind projects are economically viable."