Source: New Zealand Herald

5:00AM Thursday June 12, 2008

By James Ihaka

With hydro lakes at their lowest levels in years and talk of a looming power crisis, some New Zealanders are turning to alternative energy sources - really big ones.

Graham Purchas, who is considering buying a 4m-high wind turbine for his farm north of Wellington, was among the thousands who yesterday poured through the gates for the opening day of the 40th Fieldays at Mystery Creek, near Hamilton.

The four-day event is the biggest agricultural show in the Southern Hemisphere and last year had a turnover of $300 million read more.