Hydroelectric
power in New Zealand has been a part of the country’s energy system
for over 100 years and continues to provide more than half of the country’s
electricity needs.
The first
industrial hydro-electric power plant was established at Bullendale in Otago in
1885, to provide power for a 20 stamp battery at the Phoenix mine.
The first hydro-electric power station
constructed by the government was the Okere Falls hydro-electric station near Rotorua. The plant
began operating in May 1901. Electricity was transmitted at 3300 volts over a
13-mile (21 km) route to Rotorua, and was used to drive sewage pumps, and
some public buildings including five thermal baths.
There has been opposition to hydroelectric power on environmental
grounds for many decades.
The
first nationwide environmental campaign in New Zealand was opposition to
raising Lake Manapouri for a power station to supply electricity to an aluminium smelter. The Save Manapouri Campaign was a success and the power station was built without raising the level
of lake outside of its natural range.
The
highly endangered Black Stilt, which nests on the braided rivers beds of the South Island, is threatened by changes in river flows as a
result of new hydro dams and changes in flow regimes for existing dams. The Upper Waitaki Power Development
posed a threat to the black stilt habitat and a programme was set up to lessen
the threats.
Hydro is
New Zealand’s highest electricity producer with over 50% of New Zealand’s
annual electricity production.
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