The North Bank tunnel concept was a hydroelectric scheme being developed by Meridian Energy on the Waitaki River in Canterbury, New Zealand.

The $993 million project was expected to produce an additional 1,100 to 1,400 gigawatt-hours (4,000 to 5,000 TJ) per annum, and take up to 260 cubic metres per second (9,200 cu ft/s) of water from Lake Waitaki.

[1] Discovery of geological faultlines prompted a rethink of the project, including consideration of using a canal instead of a tunnel.

[2] Work on the project was suspended in January 2013 due to a forecast of flat demand for electricity for the next five years.

[6] The appeal hearings were held in the Environment Court during June and July 2009,[7] with water rights being granted in September 2009.