Giant wind farm planned for Pouto Forest

Kaipara hapu Te Uri o Hau says it will join Meridian Energy in planning a giant wind farm in the Pouto Forest, about 70km south of Dargaville.

Russell Kemp, chairman of the hapu's treaty settlement trust, says the 3200ha site will be able to generate up to 300MW.

If that is the case, the Pouto project will dwarf the combined output of New Zealand's existing wind farms, which produce about 170MW.