Aratiatia Power Station

Aratiatia Power Station is a hydroelectric power station on the Waikato River, in the North Island of New Zealand. It is the first hydroelectric power station on the Waikato River, and is located 13 kilometres (8.1 mi) downstream of Lake Taupō. Aratiatia is owned and operated by Mercury Energy.^[1][2]

Aratiatia
Aratiatia Rapids with opened spill gates
Country	New Zealand
Location	near Taupō
Coordinates	38°36′57″S 176°8′33″E
Status	Operational
Opening date	1964[1]
Owner(s)	Mercury Energy
Dam and spillways
Impounds	Waikato River
Reservoir
Surface area	55 ha (140-acre)
Power Station
Operator(s)	Mercury Energy
Type	Run-of-the-river
Turbines	3× Francis
Installed capacity	78 MW (105,000 hp)[1]
Annual generation	331 GWh (1,190 TJ)

Aratiatia is a largely run-of-the-river station, as it generates electricity from water from the Lake Taupō control gates and to the Ōhakuri Power Station. It does, however, have a 55-hectare (140-acre) lake behind the station for temporary storage.

The New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage gives a translation of "pegged ladder" for Aratiatia.^[3]

Aratiatia Rapids

Main article: Aratiatia Rapids

View of Aratiatia Rapids in 1928

Before construction of the dam and hydro station, the Aratiatia Rapids were a prominent feature on the Waikato River; a scenic reserve from 1906.^[4] The dam construction meant that no water flowed over the rapids. However, several times a day, the Aratiatia dam gates of the Waikato River are opened, which restores the rapids to their normal operation. There are several public lookout points on the high rock bluffs that dominate this turbulent stretch of Aratiatia Rapids.^[5]

See also

• New Zealand portal
• Water portal
• Renewable energy portal

• Electricity sector in New Zealand
• Hydroelectric power in New Zealand