Application to the Ombudsman

  • BACKGROUND: This submission to the Ombudsman is on behalf of TRM viewers who supported TRM’s recent blogs, which elaborate on and illustrate the severe aggradation problems destroying access and ruining the natural environment on the Tongariro River. For over 15 years, TRM (Tongariro River Motel) have listened to tourist guests’ concerns about the deteriorating Tongariro River environment. After failing to attract support from the usual official channels, they suggested appealing to the Ombudsman. This matter is too important to continue to ignore. Thank you to the many anonymous supporters for their advice and perseverance with this issue.

  • COMPLAINT SUMMARY: The Tongariro River is a world-famous trout fishing river located at the southern end of Lake Taupo.  The river environment has suffered since the Tongariro Power Project was developed about 50 years ago.  As the original consent approval was subject to preventing any destruction of access and the natural environment in the lower Tongariro, it is time for Genesis, the power company controlling the flow, to appoint an independent panel of experts to assess and report on the extent of the damage.  
  • TRM’s guest contributors have suggested compensation should be in the form of new access trails formed in the upper river to replace the lost opportunities in the lower river. The attraction to Genesis would be in terms of goodwill.
  • The continued aggradation has raised the lower riverbed to the point that it forced the Taupo District Council to introduce a Flood Hazard Zoning in the Turangi residential area, where flooding had never occurred before.
  • The original power scheme consent was based on Crown (MOW) promises that river access, spawning beds, and claiming Turangi would not be affected.  They misled the objectors.
  • TRM have owned and operated a motel catering to fly fishermen (& women!) for over 20 years and have become more aware of the growing concerns over that period.  
  • Recently, TRM posted blogs on Facebook with photos to illustrate the issues in more detail, dated 29 & 30 April, & 3, 4, 5, & 6 May 2026. These generated considerable interest and feedback from anglers and tourists to TRM, with over 70,000 positive views and favourable responses.  Not one reply defended the authorities. They confirmed the extent of public awareness of these increasingly serious issues and encouraged this submission.  The usual council authorities remain in complete denial. Objectors believe they need to invest in appropriate infrastructure to partially compensate for the environmental damage over the past 50 years.
  • Previous attempts by TRM have failed. The Taupo MP met with us several years ago, where we explained the problems and warned of the potential for future flooding.  She understood the issues. Then our guests’ concerns were discussed with the Taupo District Council (TDC) and with their representative for the Waikato Regional Council (WRC).  They are responsible for managing the river and, over many years, have made numerous attempts to tame nature by redirecting its flow for flood protection.  In addition, meetings with other council representatives who liaise with residents’ and tourists’ concerns have failed.  They agreed with the issues but did not progress them any further.  They followed the pattern of this future danger being “shelved” by everyone for the last fifty years.  
  • The lower river has deteriorated to the point that tourists and anglers cannot access the pools that had been there for over fifty years, now been largely ruined by severe aggradation.  These used to be the most popular pools in the river.  TRM have since consulted with experienced freshwater and marine biologists and other experts, all of whom concur that the aggradation has ruined the lower river.  Something needs to be done urgently to avoid a disaster.  
  • This situation originally commenced when the Tongariro Power Project reduced the flow by about half, redirecting it via tunnels and canals to Lake Rotoaira and through the Tokaanu Power Station, resulting in the overall flow into Lake Taupo increasing by over 20%.  Much of this increase was also from the Wanganui River and Moawhango Dam, redirected north to feed the 8 other power stations down the Waikato River.  It may have been an extraordinary hydro-engineering accomplishment, but now the detrimental environmental effects require serious attention.  
  • The increased inflow to Lake Taupo raised lake levels, causing erosion along the lake edge.  When originally challenged, MOW confirmed a condition of the consent was that the trout fishing access, spawning environment, and brown trout nursery would not be adversely affected.  
  • The power company back then, NZ Electricity, mislead the protestors..  They have failed to protect the river habitat and created flood problems for the Turangi residential area in the future.
  • Our last resort is to appeal to the Ombudsman to request a fair hearing and report to assess if there is a case for compensation and to ask for an independent expert panel to report back to anglers.  
  • In most other instances, a complaint of this nature would be supported by a local fishing club or other recreational organisation.  Unfortunately, in Turangi, the only fishing club, TALTAC (Tongariro And Lake Taupo Anglers Club) members do not live here.  TALTAC originally opposed the scheme. The club primarily operates as a low-cost accommodation facility, and it has not been active in communicating with anglers outside the club or in protecting the river environment.
  • There is a precedent of compensation for environmental damage caused by the Tongariro power scheme.  The Lake Rotoaira Forest Trust settled its claim for compensation for habitat damage caused by the power scheme many years ago.  
  • We believe a more suitable and mutually advantageous means of compensation for Turangi would be to further develop the existing loop tourist trails along the upper Tongariro River to the Poutu Dam.  This would also encourage tourists bikers and trampers. The extended trails will also link with existing facilities – toilets in camping grounds, etc. – developed for tramping the Kaimanawas.  Other DOC-managed trails lead further south to the Tree Trunk Gorge.  
  • The feedback views to TRM website reports on this issue confirm a much wider body of deep concern is evident.  TRM’s website has been receiving tourist anglers/trampers/bikers/residents’ concerns over this environmental tragedy for over 20 years.  We have never witnessed so much concern or received so much support for a single issue.   Therefore, we seek your help and guidance on how best to address these issues.

Thanking you in anticipation.

Ross Baker

Today TRM have received a progress report on another trail which will link with this proposal –

Further investment has been confirmed for upgrades across key sections of the Mountains to Sea network. Over winter and into early summer, work will focus on the Kaiwhakauka Track, Mangapurua Track, and Ohakune Old Coach Road — including bridge replacements, resurfacing, safety improvements, and upgrades to modern Great Ride Grade 3 standards. TRM supporters hoped that DOC would also help fund this Tongariro River Trail loop to link their existing trails. Together with the other trails through the Kaimanawas on the eastern side of the Tongariro National Park, these would form the next NZ Great Walks. Watch this space…