It’s difficult to imagine a New Zealand without the Waitaki Hydro Scheme.
The construction of the Waitaki dam and power station during the Great Depression of the 1920s and ‘30s wasn’t just a visionary piece of engineering - it shaped our society. It created entire workforces, economies, and communities. It led to the creation of the welfare state and helped us achieve a standard of living equal to anywhere in the world.
The Waitaki Hydro Scheme was conceived in the 1920s to meet the country’s skyrocketing demand for electricity. It expanded through to the 1980s, creating new jobs and communities. It’s the sole reason why Twizel’s primary school was once the country’s largest!
The scheme comprises eight power stations and almost 60km of canals. Meridian owns and operates six stations – Waitaki, Aviemore, Benmore and Ōhau A, B and C, while Tekapō A and B are owned and operated by Genesis Energy.
Combined, the Waitaki Hydro Scheme accounts for 18% of New Zealand’s electricity supply and 75% of its hydro-electricity storage. Meridian’s stations alone generate enough power for around 830,000 homes.
Almost 100 years on, the scheme’s more important for New Zealand’s electricity supply than ever. Created to satisfy our initial need for power, it now has a key role underpinning a new period of investment in electricity generation.
Between now and 2050, Meridian intends to invest $10 billion to meet the needs of Kiwi homes and businesses. Everything’s going electric – cars, home heating, ferries and massive industrial boilers. AI will create enormous demand, as will a growing number of data centres.
Most of that investment will go into wind and solar power as they’re the cheapest forms of renewable energy. It’ll propel New Zealand from an 85% renewable electricity system towards 100%. We’re one of very few countries with this opportunity in front of us right now.
For all of the benefits offered by wind and solar power, their output follows the course of Mother Nature, and there are times when they require back-up from other sources.
That puts the spotlight on flexible electricity supply – things that can be turned on quickly to help keep the power flowing. Hydro, gas and demand response agreements will all play an incredibly important role in this new world. Another response is grid-scale batteries, like power banks for the national grid. The Waitaki Hydro Scheme works the same way.
At its heart is Lake Pūkaki – the most iconic of alpine lakes, and an immense power source we can flick on and off as required.
It’s hard to appreciate just how much energy this vast body of water holds, so put it this way – Meridian's currently building a 200MWh battery near Whangārei that’ll power around 60,000 homes for up to two hours. Lake Pūkaki alone can store around 1,767GWh. That’s 9,000 of those grid-scale batteries.
But while Waitaki offers security, it also comes with uncertainty.
Right now, Meridian’s going through a reconsenting process to determine how the scheme should continue to operate over the next 35 years.
Earlier this week Environment Canterbury opened the process for public submissions – the current principal resource consents expire next April – and information can be found on their website.
Our application asks for the scheme to continue generating electricity as it does currently. We’re not asking for any more water than we currently have.
That’s not to say the scheme hasn’t had historical impacts, and will continue to have further impacts. Over the years we’ve listened and sought to understand these better. From this we’ve developed longstanding partnerships and initiatives, including with Waitaki Rūnaka with whom we’ve done valuable work, particularly on tuna and rock art.
In preparing for the next 35 years, we have signed agreements with a number of organisations who are impacted by the scheme or who have a role in mitigating its impacts. Along with the Waitaki Rūnaka, these organisations include the Department of Conservation, Central South Island Fish and Game, Whitewater New Zealand, Mackenzie District Council and Benmore Irrigation.
Most of these agreements commit the parties to specific mitigations, and only three involve a financial agreement to support major programmes. This is in no way new. It’s entirely consistent with the way resource consent applicants approach large infrastructure projects that have long-term implications for society.
More than anything, these agreements reflect the importance of doing the right thing and the number of organisations who share our vision for enhancing the Waitaki, its natural environment and cultural significance.
We value their support and hope Waitaki will remain a scheme that every New Zealander is proud of. One built through the immense efforts of thousands of workers. One that’s kept Kiwi lights on for 80 years. And one that’s allowed us to grow, innovate and prosper as a country. Long may that continue.
