Country New Zealand Status Operational Surface area 12 km² Owner Mercury Energy | Purpose Power Opening date 1961 Create Lake Ohakuri | |
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Location Between Taupo, Rotorua, and Hamilton Type of dam earth dam with concrete gravity sections for the intake and spillway structures | ||
Ohakuri dam yt
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 kilometres (3.1 mi) upstream of the Atiamuri Dam.
Contents
It was commissioned in 1961 and construction was organised from the 'hydro town' of Mangakino. The dam eventually created Lake Ohakuri, the largest artificial lake on the Waikato, which drowned two thirds of the Orakei Korako geothermal area as well as hot springs and wahi tapu (Māori sacred sites) at Te Ohaaki. Creation of the dam forced Ngāti Tahu to relocate their Ohaaki Marae. The submerged area also included two of the world's largest geysers (Minginui Geyser and Orakei Korako Geyser).
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.
Power station
The Ohakuri Power Station has a capacity of 112 megawatts (150,000 hp) and is operated by Mercury Energy.