The Brooklyn wind turbine, on the hills above Wellington, the oldest operating wind turbine in New Zealand is today being dismantled to be replaced.

The Brooklyn wind turbine's blades have had their last spin above Wellington.

The iconic wind-powered generator, the first of its kind in New Zealand, began to be dismantled on Monday.

From Wednesday, after the entire structure is taken away, the Brooklyn hill will stand empty until March or April, when a 67m replacement will take its place.

MONIQUE FORD Construction workers, including Andre Holm of Meridian, lower the Brooklyn wind turbine's blades by crane.

A pair of cranes have removed the rotor and its three blades. Over the next two days, the generator box will be removed, followed by the tower in three 10m sections.

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Work on the foundations for the new structure will begin in early January.

Access to the site and the neighbouring walking and mountain-biking pathways will be closed for short periods during this work, according to Meridian Energy, owner of the turbine.

The old turbine – its blades reaching 44m high – stood for 22 years, and was erected as a test case for wind energy in New Zealand.

Rather than going to the scrap heap, the structure has been sold to be used in a smaller commercial wind farm, but will likely be on private land without public access.

The new turbine, costing $2.9 million, is capable of producing more than four times the power of its older counterpart. It will be able to make enough electricity in a year to power 490 homes.