WELLINGTON, New Zealand, July 8 (UPI) -- New Zealand wind farms are using foundations similar to a tree root.

The new bases are being used for wind turbines near Palmerston North -- a first in New Zealand. Work has started on erecting 28 turbine towers at the Te Rere Hau wind farm, owned by a consortium including New Zealand Windfarms.

"The foundations are smaller and smarter and reduce earthworks by about 60 percent," said NZ Windfarms Chief Executive Chris Freear.

They require 40 percent less concrete than traditional gravity pad designs as well. Each turbine tower will have a single pile driven into rock.

There will be 97 turbines at the site on North Range Road, east of Palmerston North, when the project is complete. Five of them were installed in 2006.

NZ Windfarms hopes to have 12 turbines connected to the national grid by the end of August -- producing 6 megawatts of electricity, Freear said. Cabling is being laid to connect the farm with the national grid.

Te Rere Hau is a joint venture between NZ Windfarms and Australian interests NP Power and Babcock & Brown. (OTCPK:BBNLF)