Hydroelectric power in New Zealand

In New Zealand, hydropower accounts for 55% of electricity production, ranking it as the fifth-largest contributor among International Energy Agency (IEA) member nations.

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.

[8] During the next twenty years private companies and local authorities established a number of stations, including Waipori in Otago and Horahora on the Waikato River.

In the 1950s development of the Clutha River with Roxburgh Dam and the upper Waitaki in the MacKenzie Basin with "Tekapo A" was begun.

[12] An increase in coal and gas for electricity generation accounted for the reduction in hydroelectric power as a percentage of the total.

Small unit growth and large run-of-river plants are the most prominent examples for future hydroelectric developments.

In addition, the cost benefit of using hydroelectric power over wind or geothermal energy in New Zealand is highly debated.

Other proposals, at various planning stages, include schemes on the Mātakitaki, Matiri, Waimakariri, Clutha, Kaituna and the Gowan Rivers.

This initiative aims to address the challenges posed by New Zealand's substantial dependence on hydropower, which, while supplying over 80% of the country's electricity, faces operational issues during dry spells due to limited storage capacity.

The project aligns with New Zealand's goal of achieving a 100% renewable electricity supply and advancing its decarbonization efforts.

In this context, it assesses several energy storage options, including the Lake Onslow pumped hydro project.

The first nationwide environmental campaign in New Zealand was opposition to raising Lake Manapouri for a power station to supply electricity to the Tiwai Point Aluminium Smelter.

The Save Manapouri Campaign was a success and the power station was built without raising the level of the lake outside of its natural range.