Jason Welsh and Steve Mutch acted for Tilt Renewables in respect of its coastal Waipipi Wind Farm in Taranaki (which is now owned by Mercury). The resource consent applications for the project also involved the construction a of 13km transmission line. Regional Council consents were granted on a non-notified basis, and a hearing on the District Council consents was held in May 2017 before Independent Commissioners. Following engagement prior to and during the hearing, all key stakeholders (including iwi) either withdrew their submissions or amended their positions to that of neutrality. In July 2017 the Independent Commissioners released their decision, granting consent for all 48 turbines. The turbines have a blade tip height of 160m - the highest ever installed in New Zealand.
Construction of the wind farm began in November 2019, with the wind farm becoming fully operational in 2021.