Hauauru ma Raki Wind Farm

by Gavin Lister

(first published LANZ#10 – full article)

The recently consented[1]  Hauauru ma Raki (HMR) Wind Farm on coastal hills between Port Waikato and Raglan is the largest consented wind farm in New Zealand and amongst the larger wind farms in the world. The wind farm will comprise 168 turbines and a capacity of up to 504MW, similar in nominal capacity to some of New Zealand’s largest hydro stations. The wind turbines will be up to 150m in height (to blade tip) and will be clustered in eleven groups within an area 40km from north to south. The landscape comprises extensive pastoral farms with some picturesque limestone landforms and an exposed Tasman coast line.

The Board of Inquiry decision brought together several points of case law relevant to landscape matters, and was also noteworthy because the hearing was adjourned for a year to enable a more comprehensive approach to environmental measures to be designed.

Taradale Town Centre Completed

The $3.5m upgrade of Taradale Town Centre was recently completed. Isthmus worked closely with Napier City Council (NCC) Design Services to detail three stages of the project. First a ‘prototype’ laneway and new cafe/bar was constructed to link the shopping street with the Lee Road car park. Next the car park and Town Hall surrounds were rebuilt. And finallyGloucester Streetwas upgraded with new granite and blue clay paving, high quality lighting, robust and flexible street furniture and new tree planting. The construction was carefully managed by NCC which contributed to the project being enthusiastically received by council, the community and retailers.

(full article published in LANZ #10)