Wind farm projects in Canterbury have exerted a polarising influence in recent times.

A wind farm proposal in Canterbury's Hurunui district has led to the alleged tyre spiking of a Meridian vehicle.

Meridian is engaged in public consultation on Project Hurunui, a wind farm to be located on privately-owned farmland 66km north of Christchurch, and is expected to lodge a formal application for the project in the near future.

If approved, Project Hurunui will see the installation of up to 33 turbines with a combined generating capacity of 75.9MW, enough to power up to 33,000 average households.

MainPower is taking its case for the $200 million Mount Cass wind farm to the Environment Court after its resource consent was declined, claiming it has a plan to deal with the area’s unique geology.

The power company is citing strong support from North Canterbury locals for the wind farm and that much of the opposition came from outside the area.

The resource consent process has claimed two more victims, with the derailment of two major wind farm projects in the past week.

Days after consent for a farm near Dannevirke was denied last week, commissioners appointed by the Hurunui District Council also rejected a plan for a wind farm on Mount Cass in North Canterbury.