Aratiatia Power Station

Aratiatia Power Station is a hydroelectric power station on the Waikato River, in the North Island of New Zealand. It is the first hydroelectric power station on the Waikato River, and is located 13 kilometres (8.1 mi) downstream of Lake Taupo. Aratiatia is owned and operated by Mercury Energy.[1][2]

Aratiatia
Aratiatia Rapids with opened spill gates
CountryNew Zealand
Locationnear Taupo
Coordinates38°36′57″S 176°8′33″E
StatusOperational
Opening date1964[1]
Owner(s)Mercury Energy
Dam and spillways
ImpoundsWaikato River
Reservoir
Surface area55 ha (140-acre)
Power Station
Operator(s)Mercury Energy
TypeRun-of-the-river
Turbines3× Francis
Installed capacity78 MW (105,000 hp)[1]
Annual generation331 GWh (1,190 TJ)

Aratiatia is a largely run-of-the-river station, as it generates electricity from water from the Lake Taupo control gates and to the Ohakuri Power Station. It does, however, have a 55-hectare (140-acre) lake behind the station for temporary storage.

The New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage gives a translation of "pegged ladder" for Aratiatia.[3]

Aratiatia Rapids
Main article: Aratiatia Rapids
View of Aratiatia Rapids in 1928

Before construction of the dam and hydro station, the Aratiatia Rapids were a prominent feature on the Waikato River; a scenic reserve from 1906.[4] The dam construction meant that no water flowed over the rapids. However, several times a day, the Aratiatia dam gates of the Waikato River are opened, which restores the rapids to their normal operation. There are several public lookout points on the high rock bluffs that dominate this turbulent stretch of Aratiatia Rapids.[5]

See also

References
  1. "Our Power Stations". Mighty River Power.
  2. "Aratiatia". Mighty River Power. Archived from the original on 8 October 2011.
  3. "1000 Māori place names". New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage. 6 August 2019.
  4. "Our picturesque heritage: 100 years" (PDF). Department of Conservation. 2003.
  5. "About the Aratiatia Rapids". Destination Great Lake Taupo. Archived from the original on 2013-12-15. Retrieved 2013-12-11.

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.
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