Many of the largest dams and reservoirs in New Zealand have been developed principally to produce

hydroelectricity Hydroelectricity, or hydroelectric power, is electricity generated from hydropower (water power). Hydropower supplies one sixth of the world's electricity, almost 4500 TWh in 2020, which is more than all other renewable sources combined an ...

. Other uses include irrigation and municipal water supply.

Hydro-electric dams

The main river systems comprising a series of dams and powerhouses are situated on the following rivers: :The

Waikato River The Waikato River is the longest river in New Zealand, running for through the North Island. It rises on the eastern slopes of Mount Ruapehu, joining the Tongariro River system and flowing through Lake Taupō, New Zealand's largest lake. It th ...

:The

Waitaki River The Waitaki River is a large braided river that drains the Mackenzie Basin and runs some south-east to enter the Pacific Ocean between Timaru and Oamaru on the east coast of the South Island of New Zealand. It starts at the confluence of the � ...

:The

Clutha River The Clutha River (, officially gazetted as Clutha River / ) is the second longest river in New Zealand and the longest in the South Island. It flows south-southeast through Central and South Otago from Lake Wānaka in the Southern Alps to the P ...

Other schemes are standalone developments associated with specific sites.

Tongariro Power Scheme

The

Tongariro Power Scheme The Tongariro Power Scheme is a 360 MW hydroelectricity scheme in the central North Island of New Zealand. The scheme is currently operated by electricity generation company Genesis Energy. The scheme takes water from tributaries of the Rangit ...

(1,400 GWh) diverts water from the south side of

Mount Ruapehu Mount Ruapehu (; ) is an active stratovolcano at the southern end of the Taupō Volcanic Zone and North Island volcanic plateau in New Zealand. It is northeast of Ohakune and southwest of the southern shore of Lake Taupō, within the Tongari ...

and the west and north sides of

Tongariro Mount Tongariro (; ) is a compound volcano in the Taupō Volcanic Zone of the North Island of New Zealand. It is located to the southwest of Lake Taupō, and is the northernmost of the three active volcanoes that dominate the landscape of th ...

into

Lake Taupō Lake Taupō (also spelled Taupo; mi, Taupō-nui-a-Tia or ) is a large crater lake in New Zealand's North Island, located in the caldera of the Taupō Volcano. The lake is the namesake of the town of Taupō, which sits on a bay in the lake's no ...

, and thus eventually into the Waikato River. *

Rangipo Te Onetapu, commonly known as the Rangipo Desert, is a barren volcanic desert, desert-like environment in New Zealand, located in the Ruapehu District on the North Island Volcanic Plateau; to the east of the three active peaks of Mount Tongariro, ...

(cavern) (120 MW) * Tokaanu (240 MW) * Moawhango Dam

The Waikato

The hydro stations, starting from

, are (capacity in MW and nominal annual energy output in GWh): * Aratiatia (84 MW) (331 GWh) * Ohakuri (112 MW) (400 GWh) * Atiamuri (84 MW) (305 GWh) *

Whakamaru Whakamaru is a town in the central region of the North Island of New Zealand. The Maori words 'whaka' and 'maru' literally mean to give shelter to, or safeguard. History The Whakamaru supervolcano eruption (dated to 320–340,000 years ago) ...

(100 MW) (486 GWh) *

Maraetai Maraetai is a coastal town and the easternmost suburb of greater Auckland in New Zealand. The closest town, Beachlands, lies approximately 4 km to the west. Its name is Māori meaning "meeting place by the sea". Maraetai was the origina ...

(360 MW) (855 GWh) * Waipapa (51 MW) (330 GWh) * Arapuni (171 MW) (805 GWh) * Karapiro (90 MW) (490 GWh)

The Waitaki

The river was developed in multiple stages. The Waitaki dam was built first, without earthmoving machinery, followed by the development of the

Aviemore Dam The Aviemore Dam is a dam on the Waitaki River in New Zealand. The dam is a composite dam, with an embankment section, and a concrete section. Built in the 1960s (and completed in 1968) it impounds Lake Aviemore. Aviemore Dam is owned and opera ...

Lake Aviemore Lake Aviemore or Mahi Tikumu is a man-made lake in New Zealand's South Island, part of the Waitaki hydroelectric scheme. Immediately upstream is Lake Benmore and downstream Lake Waitaki. Aviemore lies on both sides of the border between the Wa ...

and Benmore Dam on

Lake Benmore Lake Benmore is New Zealand's largest artificial lake. Located in the South Island of New Zealand and part of the Waitaki River, it was created in the 1960s by construction of Benmore Dam. Characteristics The lake has an area of about 75 ...

Lake Pukaki Lake Pukaki is the largest of three roughly parallel alpine lakes running north–south along the northern edge of the Mackenzie Basin on New Zealand's South Island. The others are Lakes Lake Tekapo, Tekapo and Lake Ohau, New Zealand, Ohau. All t ...

was initially dammed at this stage to provide storage and flow control. A small station was also installed on

Lake Tekapo __NOTOC__ Lake Tekapo ( mi, Takapō) is the second-largest of three roughly parallel lakes running north–south along the northern edge of the Mackenzie Basin in the South Island of New Zealand (the others are Lake Pukaki and Lake Ohau). ...

, but although it has a small dam to raise the pre-existing lake, water was taken through a tunnel to a powerstation below the level of the lake. In the 1960s, work was started on the Upper Waitaki project. This project consisted of taking the discharge from the original Tekapo (A) station through a

power canal A Power canal refers to a canal used for hydraulic power generation, rather than for transport of watercraft. The power canal was a major factor in the Industrial revolution in New England in the 19th century. Most early power canals were mill ...

, the Tekapo Canal, to Tekapo B station at the edge of Lake Pukaki. The dam at Pukaki was increased in height. Water from Pukaki is then transferred into the Pukaki Canal which meets the Ohau Canal from Lake Ohau into Ohau A station and

Lake Ruataniwha Lake Ruataniwha is an artificial lake in the Mackenzie Basin in the South Island of New Zealand. It was formed in 1977–1981 as part of the Waitaki hydroelectric project. It lies on the traditional boundary of the Canterbury and Otago provinces, ...

. The Ohau Canal continues beyond Lake Ruataniwha to Ohau B midway along, before emptying through Ohau C into Lake Benmore. Tekapo-Pukaki canal

The stations are (capacity) (annual output) (commissioned) *Tekapo A (25 MW) (160 GWh) 1955 *Tekapo B (160 MW) (800 GWh) 1977 *Ohau A (264 MW) (1150 GWh) 1980 *Ohau B (212 MW) (970 GWh) 1984/1985 *Ohau C (212 MW) (970 GWh) 1984/1985 The original Waitaki power stations discharge water back into the Waitaki River which then forms a storage lake for the next station in the chain. The three power stations are: * Benmore (540 MW) (2,200 GWh) 1965 *

Aviemore Aviemore (; gd, An Aghaidh Mhòr ) is a town and tourist resort, situated within the Cairngorms National Park in the Highlands of Scotland. It is in the Badenoch and Strathspey committee area, within the Highland council area. The town is po ...

(220 MW) (940 GWh) 1968 *Waitaki (105 MW) (500 GWh) 1935

Project Aqua Project Aqua was a hydroelectric scheme proposed for the lower Waitaki River in New Zealand. Although the scheme had considerable support from some locals, it met with opposition from many other groups, and Meridian Energy decided in March 2004 n ...

was a proposed scheme of six dams on a man made canal running from the Waitaki Dam to the sea. It was cancelled by

Meridian Energy Meridian Energy Limited is a New Zealand electricity generator and retailer. The company generates the largest proportion of New Zealand's electricity, generating 35 percent of the country's electricity in the year ending December 2014, and is ...

on 29 March 2004.

Clutha River

* Clyde Dam (445 MW) *

Roxburgh Dam The Roxburgh Dam is the earliest of the large hydroelectric projects in the lower half of the South Island of New Zealand. It lies across the Clutha River / Mata-Au, some from Dunedin, some to the north of the town of Roxburgh. The settlement of ...

(320 MW)

Standalone hydroelectric schemes

Manapouri Manapouri is a small town in Southland / Fiordland, in the southwest corner of the South Island, in New Zealand. The township is the westernmost municipality in New Zealand. Located at the edge of the Fiordland National Park, on the eastern ...

(850 MW) (4,800 GWh) :Manapouri does not rely on a high dam to provide water – it takes advantage of the natural 178-metre height difference between

Lake Manapouri Lake Manapouri is located in the South Island of New Zealand. The lake is situated within the Fiordland National Park and the wider region of Te Wahipounamu South West New Zealand World Heritage Area. Māori History According to Māori legend ...

and the sea at Deep Cove in Doubtful Sound, in

Fiordland Fiordland is a geographical region of New Zealand in the south-western corner of the South Island, comprising the westernmost third of Southland. Most of Fiordland is dominated by the steep sides of the snow-capped Southern Alps, deep lake ...

. The power house is in a cavern, while two tailrace tunnels take the water from the power house to Deep Cove and the sea. The Manapouri Control Structure (Mararoa dam) downstream from the original outlet of Lake Manapouri controls the lake level, and feeds water from the Mararoa river back up the river into the Lake.

Other schemes

=North Island

= *Kaimai Scheme – Kaimai (0.4 MW), Lloyd Mandeno (15.6 MW), Lower Mangapapa (6.25 MW), Ruahihi (20 MW) – Scheme: (165 GWh) * Aniwhenua Dam (25 MW) (127 GWh) – Bay of Plenty (Upriver from Matahina dam) *Matahina Dam (36 MW) (300 GWh) – on the Rangitaiki River, Bay of Plenty *Lake Waikaremoana Scheme – 3 dams: Kaitawa (36 MW), Tuai (60 MW), and Piripaua (42 MW) *Wheao & Flaxy (26 MW) (115 GWh) *Hinemaiaia – A (2.25 MW), B (1.35 MW), C (2.85 MW) – (30 GWh) – near Taupō *Motukawa (4.6 MW) (25.8 GWh) – Taranaki *Mangorie (4.5 MW) (20.9 GWh) – Taranaki * Patea Dam (31 MW) (115 GWh) (Peak Station) – Taranaki * Mangahao Dam (30 MW) – Tararuas *Kourarau Scheme (1 MW) – Wairarapa

=South Island

= *Waihopai (2.5 MW) (11.8 GWh) *Branch River – (Wairau & Argyle Stations) (11 MW) (54.3 GWh) – run of river canals * Cobb Reservoir and Cobb Power Station (32 MW) – Golden Bay * Arnold Dam (3 MW) (25 GWh) – West Coast *Dillmans (0.5 MW), Duffers (3.655 MW), Kumara (6.5 MW) – Scheme: (47.9 GWh) * Kaniere Forks (0.43 MW) (3.75 GWssdn ruwehruehre h) & MacKays Creek (1.1 MW) (8 GWh) *Wahapo (3.1 MW) (14.5 GWh) – South Westland *

Lake Coleridge Lake Coleridge ( mi, Whakamatau) is located in inland Canterbury, in New Zealand's South Island. Located to the northwest of Methven, it has a surface area of . The lake is situated in an over-deepened valley formed by a glacier over 20,000 year ...

(45 MW) (205 to 300 GWh) – Canterbury – diverted rivers and natural lake *Highbank (25.2 MW) (115 GWh) – Canterbury – joint power & irrigation *Montalto (1.1 MW – 1.8 MW) (12 GWh) – Canterbury – joint power & irrigation *Opuha Dam (7.5 MW) – Canterbury – joint power & irrigation *Paerau (10 MW, 47.8 GWh) & Patearoa (2.25 MW, 7.5 GWh) –

Taieri River The Taieri River is the fourth-longest river in New Zealand and is in Otago in the South Island. Rising in the Lammerlaw Range, it initially flows north, then east around the Rock and Pillar range before turning southeast, reaching the sea sou ...

, Otago – joint power & irrigation *

Waipori Waipori may refer to either: * Waipori, New Zealand, a township within Dunedin, New Zealand's city limits * The Waipori River in Otago in the South Island of New Zealand, or to * Lake Waipori, an area of wetlands draining into the Waipori River ...

– 4 dams (12 MW, 57 MW, 7 MW, 8 MW) – Dunedin * Monowai (6 MW) (34 GWh) * Roaring Meg – 2 power stations (1.3MW, 3MW) (30 GWh)

Municipal water supply dams

Auckland

*Cosseys Dam – Auckland *Hays Creek Dam – Auckland *Upper Huia Dam – Auckland *Lower Huia Dam – Auckland *Mangatangi Dam – Auckland *Mangatawhiri Dam – Auckland * Upper Nihotupu Dam – Auckland * Lower Nihotupu Dam – Auckland * Waitākere Dam and Reservoir – Auckland *Wairoa Dam – Auckland

Other North Island

*Clapcott Concrete Arch (Mangapoike or Gisborne No. 1) Dam - Gisborne *Kaitoke Weir – Upper Hutt *Macaskill Lakes – Upper Hutt *Mangamahoe Dam - New Plymouth *Okehu Stream/Waitahinga Dam (Rangitatau Weir) - Wanganui (Whanganui) *Upper and Lower Turitea - Palmerston North *Whau Valley Dam – Whangarei *Wilsons Dam – Whangarei

South Island

*Waitohi (Barnes) Dam - Picton *Maitai Dam - Nelson * Opuha Dam –

Canterbury Canterbury (, ) is a cathedral city and UNESCO World Heritage Site, situated in the heart of the City of Canterbury local government district of Kent, England. It lies on the River Stour. The Archbishop of Canterbury is the primate of ...

, also has small hydro-electric scheme (7.5 MW) *

Ross Creek Reservoir The Ross Creek Reservoir is an artificial lake in Dunedin, New Zealand. One of the oldest artificial lakes in the country, and the oldest water supply reservoir still in use in the country, it was created in the 1860s to provide water for the cit ...

–

Dunedin Dunedin ( ; mi, Ōtepoti) is the second-largest city in the South Island of New Zealand (after Christchurch), and the principal city of the Otago region. Its name comes from , the Scottish Gaelic name for Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland. Th ...

* Sullivan's Dam – Dunedin

Defunct dams

* Birchville Dam –

Upper Hutt Upper Hutt ( mi, Te Awa Kairangi ki Uta) is a city in the Wellington Region of New Zealand and one of the four cities that constitute the Wellington metropolitan area. Geography The Upper Hutt city centre lies approximately 26 km north-e ...

*Johnsonville Waterworks - Ohariu Valley *Korokoro Dam *Morton Dam - Wainuiomata *Upper and Lower Karori Dams and the Karori Reservoirs – WellingtonIPENZ Engineers New Zealand, Engineering Heritage Registe
Lower Karori Dam
retrieved 29 December 2010. (now a

nature reserve A nature reserve (also known as a wildlife refuge, wildlife sanctuary, biosphere reserve or bioreserve, natural or nature preserve, or nature conservation area) is a protected area of importance for flora, fauna, or features of geological or ...

) *Teviot Dam - Roxburgh *Waitohi Weir (1891) - Picton *Williams Dam - Picton

Irrigation dams

*Lakes Manuwai and Waingaro at Kerikeri, purpose-built irrigation dams containing 12,800,000 m3 of water * Opuha Dam

Notes

External links

''Dams'' in the 1966 Encyclopaedia of New ZealandTrustpower Generation – November 2001 Report
(PDF)
Waikato Hydroelectric Scheme
{{Authority control

New Zealand New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island count ...

Dams A dam is a barrier that stops or restricts the flow of surface water or underground streams. Reservoirs created by dams not only suppress floods but also provide water for activities such as irrigation, human consumption, industrial use ...