Hauauru ma raki
Encyclopedia
Hauāuru mā raki is a wind farm
being developed on the Waikato
coast of New Zealand
.
It will extend 34 km along the coast between Port Waikato
and Raglan. The project covers an area of 168 square kilometres (65 sq mi) and has a capacity of up to 504 MW. The wind farm will be owned and operated by Contact Wind Ltd, a joint venture between national electricity generator Contact Energy
and the local Wind Farm Group.
Contact Energy applied for resource consents in June 2008. The first electricity from the wind farm is planned for 2013 with the project due for completion by 2016. The project will provide around 1440 GWh of electricity per year, equivalent to 180,000 homes.
process, the decision will be made by an independent board of enquiry. The move is possible if a project is considered to be of "national significance", and is generally (but rarely) used when the decision on an important project might otherwise be held up for a long time due to the standard process.
The Board of Inquiry established to consider the proposal was chaired by Environment Court
judge Jeffrey Allan Smith. Other members of the Board were Dr Diane Menzies, Ms Gina Rangi and Mr John Lumsden. Hearings commenced on 27 April 2009 at Tuakau
. In May, Contact requested a 12 month adjournment of proceedings to enable time to compile additional details requested by the Board of Inquiry.
In May 2011, the Board granted resource consents for the project, with conditions limiting the turbines to a height of 150m and three blades of up to 50m length.
Wind farm
A wind farm is a group of wind turbines in the same location used to produce electric power. A large wind farm may consist of several hundred individual wind turbines, and cover an extended area of hundreds of square miles, but the land between the turbines may be used for agricultural or other...
being developed on the Waikato
Waikato District
Waikato District is a territorial authority of New Zealand, in the northern part of Waikato Region, North Island. Waikato District is administered by the Waikato District Council, with headquarters in Ngaruawahia....
coast of New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
.
It will extend 34 km along the coast between Port Waikato
Port Waikato
Port Waikato is on the south bank of the Waikato River at its outflow into the Tasman Sea, in northern New Zealand. Now a small town with a population of under 300, it was an important port during the New Zealand Land Wars of the 19th century...
and Raglan. The project covers an area of 168 square kilometres (65 sq mi) and has a capacity of up to 504 MW. The wind farm will be owned and operated by Contact Wind Ltd, a joint venture between national electricity generator Contact Energy
Contact Energy
Contact Energy Limited is a New Zealand electricity generator, natural gas wholesaler and electricity, natural gas, and LPG retailer.The company is the second-largest electricity generator in New Zealand , generating 24 percent of New Zealand's electricity in the year ending 31 December 2009, and...
and the local Wind Farm Group.
Contact Energy applied for resource consents in June 2008. The first electricity from the wind farm is planned for 2013 with the project due for completion by 2016. The project will provide around 1440 GWh of electricity per year, equivalent to 180,000 homes.
Resource consents
In September 2008, the Energy Minister "called in" the project, meaning that instead of going though the standard resource consentResource consent
A resource consent is the authorisation given to certain activities or uses of natural and physical resources required under the New Zealand Resource Management Act . Some activities may either be specifically authorised by the RMA or be permitted activities authorised by rules in plans...
process, the decision will be made by an independent board of enquiry. The move is possible if a project is considered to be of "national significance", and is generally (but rarely) used when the decision on an important project might otherwise be held up for a long time due to the standard process.
The Board of Inquiry established to consider the proposal was chaired by Environment Court
Environment Court of New Zealand
The Environment Court of New Zealand is a specialist court for planning permits and environmental issues...
judge Jeffrey Allan Smith. Other members of the Board were Dr Diane Menzies, Ms Gina Rangi and Mr John Lumsden. Hearings commenced on 27 April 2009 at Tuakau
Tuakau
Tuakau is a town in the Franklin district, and is part of the Waikato Region in the North Island of New Zealand.The town serves to support local farming, and is the residence of many employees of New Zealand Steel at Glenbrook....
. In May, Contact requested a 12 month adjournment of proceedings to enable time to compile additional details requested by the Board of Inquiry.
In May 2011, the Board granted resource consents for the project, with conditions limiting the turbines to a height of 150m and three blades of up to 50m length.