An energy company looks to be fighting an uphill battle in its bid to build a wind farm on land near Martinborough, linked to the legendary Kupe.

Meridian Energy wants to erect about 45 turbines it claims could power up to 40,000 homes on hill country close to Nga Waka a Kupe or Kupe's canoes, south-east of the town on the Martinborough-Pirinoa Road.

The proposal has been bandied about for well over a year but, as yet, no official moves have been taken to secure consent for the wind farm to be built and the plan is already facing opposition in the district.

Farmer Richard Riddiford said most people in Martinborough know very little about what the power company proposes to do and for that reason wants to see a public meeting organised.

"I object to all this happening by stealth."

Mr Riddiford said people need to know what impact the wind farm would have on the landscape and also what inconvenience would be caused during the various stages of construction.

"There's the noise factor for a start but if you talk to people who experienced the building of the wind farm at Makara they will tell you it was a nightmare.

"These turbines are about 140m high and hundreds of tonnes of concrete goes into pouring the foundations for them alone.

"There's no way the trucks can by-pass the township of Martinborough."

Mr Riddiford said Martinborough's revival had been on the strength of its rural lifestyle and the vineyards.

"I don't think people would come to Martinborough to look at windmills - or listen to them for that matter."

As far as Nga Waka a Kupe was concerned there was an historic link to Maori history.

"At our Palliser Estate winery we feature Nga Waka a Kupe on our labels."

Chairman of South Wairarapa's Maori Standing Committee Ninawa Munro said the site has special significance to Maori with the upturned canoes of kupe clearly visible nearby.

She said the ridge on which the turbines would be erected looks over a magnificent, unspoiled Wairarapa vista.

"It's very much a special place for Maori and you can see for miles."

Initial discussions with Meridian Energy dated back well over a year... " and nothing has really been heard from them since."

"We told them they needed to talk the matter over with both Ngati Kahungunu ki Wairarapa and with Rangitane."

Mrs Munro said she was opposed to the wind farm " in principle" and that the power company was treading on pretty sacred ground.

The Maori Standing Committee had talked about the proposal a long time ago and had really done all it could up until now.

"We might get involved again further down the track."

South Wairarapa mayor Adrienne Staples said Meridian has not yet lodged an application of any kind but there had been some early discussions between the company's consultants and the council's planning department.

"My own personal view is that I don't think the ridge they intend to put turbines on is an appropriate place for a wind farm.

'I am not opposed to wind farms per se but I am when involves a ridge close to town and is part of the fabric of the town."

Mrs Staples said although turbines would not be erected directly on Nga Waka a Kupe they would be " a little bit too the north and would have a definite impact on the ridgeline."

Before any work could be done Meridian would have to make the necessary consent applications to the council which would then take the matter to a hearing.