Matahina Power Station
Location
Rangitāiki River
Commissioned
1967
Max Capacity
80 MW
Annual Output
290 GWh
The 86m high earth dam at Matahina is the largest of its type in the North Island and creates Lake Matahina.
Care should always be taken when swimming, fishing or boating in the Rangitaiki river as the generation stations along the river can alter flows quickly.
A trap and transfer programme at Matahina is operated by the Kōkopu Trust on behalf of Manawa Energy and helps elver and other native fish species to migrate upstream of the dam.
Rangitāiki River Environment Fund
The Rangitāiki River Environment Fund was established in 2015 by Manawa Energy, in partnership with the Rangitāiki Hapū Coalition and Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa, and joined in 2018 by Fonterra.
River Flows and Modified Operating Regime
In June 2016, the Modified Operating Regime was implemented. This meant a new minimum flow came into effect. The minimum flow of 35m3/s must be maintained at the flow recording site at Te Teko.
Real time information on the flows and levels within the Rangitaiki River as measured at Te Teko can be found on the Bay of Plenty Regional Council monitoring page by clicking here.
The term ‘operating peak’ is defined as an increase in the discharge from the Matahina Dam (being a combination of discharges from the power station and over the spillway) to a constant flow for no less than 30 minutes followed by a subsequent decrease in the flow being discharged.