Lake Puketirini is a former opencast coal mine, immediately to the west of Huntly and east of the larger, but much shallower

Lake Waahi Lake Waahi (or up to 1913 sometimes called Lake Waihi) is located immediately to the west of Huntly, in the Waikato Region. Lake Waahi is a riverine lake, which links to the Waikato River by way of the short Waahi Stream. The smaller Lake Puket ...

, in the Waikato Region. It is circled by a walkway.

History

The area was initially known as Puketirini, which included Lake Rotoiti, which was shown on maps until 1949, though a 1944 map showed it as Westmere and drained. The west shaft of

Ralph Mine Ralph (pronounced ; or ,) is a male given name of English, Scottish and Irish origin, derived from the Old English ''Rædwulf'' and Radulf, cognate with the Old Norse ''Raðulfr'' (''rað'' "counsel" and ''ulfr'' "wolf"). The most common forms ...

was at Puketirini and used for rescue after the 1914 explosion. The site was identified as a potential coal mine in 1929 and land was bought by the government between 1940 and 1980. Mining began on part of the site in 1954, or 1956. The initial mining used small excavators. From 1984 the mine was extended to the north. It was transferred to the Coal Corporation in 1986 and Weavers opencast coal mine excavated the area until 1993, using a bucketwheel excavator and

conveyor belt A conveyor belt is the carrying medium of a belt conveyor system (often shortened to belt conveyor). A belt conveyor system is one of many types of conveyor systems. A belt conveyor system consists of two or more pulleys (sometimes referred to ...

to dig out of overburden and of coal, mostly for Glenbrook steelworks. Much of the area around the lake is unconsolidated overburden. The shoreline was shaped by 1999 and the lake was full by 2005. In December 2006, Waikato District Council acquired part of the site for recreational use from Solid Energy.

Pollution

A 2006 study found the lake was mesotrophic and that

koi carp or more specifically , are colored varieties of the Amur carp (''Cyprinus rubrofuscus'') that are kept for decorative purposes in outdoor koi ponds or water gardens. Koi is an informal name for the colored variants of ''C. rubrofuscus'' kept ...

were present.

Coalfields Museum

A 1978 map shows a siding from the

Glen Afton branch The Glen Afton Branch was a branch railway line of 7.9 km (originally 14.1 km) in the Waikato in New Zealand, built to serve coal mines in the Awaroa district west of Huntly, New Zealand, Huntly at Rotowaro, Pukemiro and Glen Afton. R ...

had been laid. It was on that alignment that, in 2008, the 1939 Huntly railway station was moved, as part of plans to put the Waikato Coalfields Museum beside the lake. In 2017 the museum was further discussed and moved to the centre of Huntly.

Diving School

In 2000 the New Zealand School of Commercial Diver Training opened. It now operates as the Subsea Training Centre.

External links

Photo of Weavers Mine

1925 geological map showing Lake Rotoiti

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Puketirini Lakes of Waikato Waikato District