Open/Close Toolbox
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 New Zealand License
Format: Place
Linked To
Copyright
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 New Zealand LicenseThis licence allows you to download this work and share it with others as long as you mention us and link back to us, but you cannot change it in any way or use it commercially.
Dunedin Public Libraries and the Dunedin Lebanese Community Present
He Purapura Marara | Scattered Seeds
He Purapura Marara | Scattered Seeds
Menu
Waipori Power Station
Details
DescriptionWaipori’s four Stations sit in a narrow and rocky gorge, which plunges 165 metres (m) over just 4 kilometres (km), providing plenty of fall for the water to drive the turbines. Above, there’s a 27km long valley plateau, which is ideal for Lake Mahinerangi.
Waipori 1A Power Station delivers 10 MW; Waipori 2A delivers 58 MW; Waipori 3 delivers 7.6 MW; and Waipori 4 delivers 8 MW. The Scheme’s total average annual electricity output is 192 GWh.
Back in 1907, the water was diverted out of the Waipori River by a 3m timber dam and carried to the Power Station along a 2.7km flume of native timber. Two 1,000kW generators were driven by pelton wheels: supplying electricity throughout Dunedin.
The deep stream hydro scheme channels water flowing from an existing deep stream diversion, impounds that water in a storage reservoir, and then allows the water to be released through canals containing two 205MW generating units to lake Mahinerangi. The scheme has a total average annual output of 23GWh and was commissioned in 2008.
Lake Mahinerangi is a popular spot for recreational fishing. Further downstream, Waipori River is a valuable habitat for trout and native bird species.
In Maori, Waipori means ‘dark water’, this describes how the water is often stained by peat swamps at the headwaters.
In 2003, the Scheme was granted new Resource Consents for a further 35 years, it is due for renewal in 2038.
Geo location[1]
Waipori 1A Power Station delivers 10 MW; Waipori 2A delivers 58 MW; Waipori 3 delivers 7.6 MW; and Waipori 4 delivers 8 MW. The Scheme’s total average annual electricity output is 192 GWh.
Back in 1907, the water was diverted out of the Waipori River by a 3m timber dam and carried to the Power Station along a 2.7km flume of native timber. Two 1,000kW generators were driven by pelton wheels: supplying electricity throughout Dunedin.
The deep stream hydro scheme channels water flowing from an existing deep stream diversion, impounds that water in a storage reservoir, and then allows the water to be released through canals containing two 205MW generating units to lake Mahinerangi. The scheme has a total average annual output of 23GWh and was commissioned in 2008.
Lake Mahinerangi is a popular spot for recreational fishing. Further downstream, Waipori River is a valuable habitat for trout and native bird species.
In Maori, Waipori means ‘dark water’, this describes how the water is often stained by peat swamps at the headwaters.
In 2003, the Scheme was granted new Resource Consents for a further 35 years, it is due for renewal in 2038.
Geo location[1] Relates to
Contributors
ContributorTrustpowerEmma Milburn
Emma Milburnloading google map....
Waipori Power Station. Dunedin Public Libraries, accessed 22/07/2026, https://dunedin.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/200952