The turbines would rest on innovative foundations that went into the soil much like a tree root and needed 40 percent less concrete than traditional gravity pad designs.

"The foundations are smaller and smarter and reduce earthworks by about 60 percent," NZ Windfarms chief executive Chris Freear said.

The Windflow 500 turbines, designed and manufactured in New Zealand, would start arriving at the site later this month.

High-grade cabling to connect the wind farm to the national grid was also being laid, Mr Freear said.

By the end of August, it was expected that 12 turbines -- seven from the second stage and five from the first -- would be connected and exporting 6 megawatts to the grid.

NZ Windfarms has a 50 percent stake in Te Rere Hau, with the other 50 percent owned by NP Power and Babcock and Brown Wind Power.

The project has resource consent for 97 turbines and is due to be finished in mid-2009.

NZ Windfarms shares were down 1c to 93c in mid-afternoon trading, having ranged between 85c and $1.36 in the past year.