Kaiwera Downs Wind Farm

Higgins is the lead contractor for Mercury’s Kaiwera Downs Wind Farm near Gore.

Mercury awarded Higgins the ECI civil works contract for the first stage of the $115 million windfarm in September 2022.

Being built 15km southeast of Gore, Stage one of Kaiwera Downs Windfarm consists of 10 wind turbines that will generate a combined average of 148 GWh in renewable power each year - enough to power more than 20,000 homes or 66,000 electric vehicles – helping to increase the proportion of electricity generated in New Zealand from renewable sources.

Kaiwera Downs will be the sixth wind farm project undertaken by Higgins, which has successfully delivered infrastructure for five of New Zealand’s largest wind farm projects including Mercury’s Waipipi, Meridian’s Te Apiti, West Wind and Mill Creek, and Trustpower’s Tararua T3. These projects, combined, have seen Higgins involved in the construction of 50% of New Zealand’s total 1045MW of wind energy production.  

The broad scope of work includes delivery of core services to lay foundations for 10 wind turbines as well as road access to and around the site.

As lead contractor, Higgins are supported by our Fletcher family of brands including Brian Perry Civil for site work, ground improvements and turbine foundations and Firth Industries as the concrete provider. 

Civil works are expected to be completed in May, with the wind farm operational by the end of 2023.