Tongariro Hydro Power Scheme 1970

Tourist anglers are interested in local history and often ask about the background of the major hydro power scheme that created Turangi and dictates the Tongariro River flow and the surrounding natural landscape.

The detrimental effects persist. As a condition of the consent, the Government contractors, MOW (Ministry of Works), promised that the Tongariro River fishing would not be affected and that access to the lower river would be maintained. They lied. Fifty years later, compensation remains due.

This claim, reported in the “Turangi Township Report 1995”, concerned the taking by the Crown of an extensive area of ancestral land under the compulsory acquisition provisions of the Public Works Act. There were many failures reported, in particular the Crown took between two-thirds and twice as much – 1665 acres, despite having promised to take no more than 800 to 1,000 acres. etc.

The loss to the fishing community was their failure to ensure the important trout fishery would not suffer or be degraded, and that increased flooding would not occur.

In the Turangi Township Report, 1995, it was concluded that the claimants were entitled to compensation for any losses.

Therefore, Genesis should replace the lost access and opportunities in the lower river by extending existing tourist access with a bike track upriver to link with the Poutu Dam.

The Tribunal reported that the Crown failed in significant ways, resulting in increased flooding and degraded trout fishing opportunities.

Anglers are still waiting. Watch this space…