HYDRO.
Since 1947
188km downstream of Lake Taupō, the Karāpiro Lake is the home of NZ Rowing.
Combined they offer the largest output from any lake on the Waikato River.
Lake Ōhakuri covers 12 sq km and is the largest lake on the Waikato River.
Since 1929
Protected under the Historic Places Trust Arapuni has the largest capacity of any station in the Waikato hydro system.
The main switching station for upper Waikato generation and supplies the transmission system that leads north.
13km downstream from Taupō, Aratiatia is the smallest hydro reservoir in the Waikato Hydro System.
The smallest power station on the Waikato River and is used to supplement other stations.
Originally designed for three generators, a fourth was later added and commissioned in 1962.
Since 1941
The Gates help manage the volume of water flowing down the Waikato River, in response to inflows to Lake Taupō and energy demand.
CHECK OUT OUR HYDRO STATIONS
UPGRADING OUR VITAL HYDRO ASSETS
Our hydro stations on the Waikato River were constructed from the late 1920s to the 1970s and have worked hard to keep the country powered. We have a long-term hydro refurbishment programme to protect these assets to ensure they can manage water flow that looks after the environment but also can optimise energy from the awa.
We’re presently working on the upgrade to our Karāpiro Hydro Power Station. Find out more here.
Maraetai Hydro Power Station will be upgraded next, with the site works planned for 2027. All its turbines, generators and governors will be replaced. The upgrades will add about 32GWh annual output to the station.
At the Ātiamuri Hydro Power Station, work is scheduled for 2028 to upgrade all four of its generators. These upgrades will add an estimate 2-4MW per unit and 18GWh of additional generation.
