Ohakuri Dam

Ohakuri Power Station
Ohakuri dam and powerhouse from the north.
Location of Ohakuri Power Station
Country	New Zealand
Location	Waikato River
Coordinates	38°24′30″S 176°5′22″E / 38.40833°S 176.08944°E / -38.40833; 176.08944Coordinates: 38°24′30″S 176°5′22″E / 38.40833°S 176.08944°E / -38.40833; 176.08944
Status	Operational
Commission date	1961
Owner(s)	Mighty River Power
Power station information
Primary fuel	Hydroelectric
Generation units	4× Francis
Power generation information
Installed capacity	112 MW

Ohakuri is a dam and hydroelectric power station on the Waikato River, central North Island, New Zealand, midway between Taupo, Rotorua and Hamilton. Its dam is about 5 km upstream of the Atiamuri Dam.

The penstocks seen from the west.

It was commissioned in 1961 and construction was organised from the 'hydro town' of Mangakino.^[1] The dam eventually created Lake Ohakuri, the largest artificial lake on the Waikato,^[2] which drowned two thirds of the Orakei Korako geothermal area as well as hot springs and wahi tapu (Māori sacred sites) at Te Ohaaki.^[1] Creation of the dam forced Ngāti Tahu to relocate their Ohaaki Marae.^[3] The submerged area also included two of the world’s largest geysers (Minginui Geyser and Orakei Korako Geyser).^[4]

The construction in the face of these negative effects was considered justified at the time due to the serious electricity shortages plaguing the country after World War II, and by the fact that laws requiring public participation or consultation were not introduced until much later. While compensation to Māori land owners was paid based on the land take rules of the Public Works Act, the damage to the inhabitants of the area was to form basis of further legal actions under the Waitangi Tribunal legislation many years later.^[1]

The Ohakuri Power Station has a capacity of 112 MW and is operated by Mighty River Power.

References

1. ^ ^{a b c} Section 16.3 (from the The Pouakani Report 1993, Waitangi Tribunal. Accessed 2008-01-16.)
2. ^ Ohakuri (from the Mighty River Power website. Accessed 2008-02-13.)
3. ^ Ihaka, James (2 September 2009). "Sinking marae's iwi upset at second forced shift". New Zealand Herald. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10594601. Retrieved 2009-09-02. 
4. ^ Tall Geysers, Minority Geoscience Program, University of New Orleans. Accessed 2008-02-13.

Further reading

• Martin, John E, ed (1991). People, Power and Power Stations: Electric Power Generation in New Zealand 1880 - 1990. Wellington: Bridget Williams Books Ltd and Electricity Corporation of New Zealand. pp. 316 pages.. ISBN 0-908912-16-1. 

External links

• Hydro Stations: Ohakuri (from the Mighty River Power website. Retrieved 2007-12-01.)