Pātea Power Station

Pātea’s earth fill dam is the fourth highest in New Zealand at 82m. The dam creates the 46km long Lake Rotorangi, New Zealand’s longest man-made lake.

The dam includes an adult tuna (native eel) bypass for downstream migration, but is too high to install fish passes so an active trap and transfer programme assists upstream migration. Spillway gate operations are timed to help with downstream eel migration during the migration season.

Lake Rotorangi is a popular recreational lake. Please refer to the hazard maps below, which show the lake's areas that can be hazardous for boating. These maps identify areas of shallow water depth and submerged hazards considered dangerous to recreational lake users during times of low lake levels. This survey was undertaken in 2011, as required by Manawa Energy's resource consent.

The three boat ramps on Lake Rotorangi are at Glen Nui, Pātea Dam & Pukekino Landing. Glen Nui boat ramp is usable between 75.5m and 78m. Pātea Dam & Pukekino Landing boat ramps are usable when the lake level is between 74.5m and 78m.

Lake Rotorangi Hazard Map 1

Lake Rotorangi Hazard Map 2

Full Hazard Survey