Guardians of Lake Manapouri facts for kids

The Guardians of Lake Manapouri, Monowai and Te Anau are a special group of people chosen to look after some of New Zealand's beautiful lakes and rivers. Their main job is to give advice to the New Zealand Minister of Conservation. This advice is about how the Manapouri Power Station affects the environment, nature, and people living near Lake Manapouri and Lake Te Anau.

They pay close attention to how the power station impacts things like social values, nature, fun activities, tourism, and other important parts of the area.

What do the Guardians do?

The Guardians make sure that the operation of the Manapouri Power Station doesn't harm the environment or the communities nearby. They focus on the lakes themselves, their shorelines, and the rivers that flow into and out of them.

Protecting Lakes and Rivers

Their main goal is to protect the natural beauty and health of the lakes and rivers. This includes looking at how water levels change and what that means for plants, animals, and the land around the water.

Social and Community Focus

The Guardians also think about people. They consider how the power station affects local towns like Manapouri and Te Anau. They look at things important to people, such as places for recreation (like boating or fishing), tourism, and the general well-being of the community.

Why were the Guardians created?

The Guardians were formed because of a big public effort called the Save Manapouri campaign. This campaign happened because many people were worried about plans to raise the level of Lake Manapouri for the power station.

The Save Manapouri Campaign

In the late 1960s and early 1970s, there was a plan to raise the water level of Lake Manapouri by many meters. This would have flooded parts of the lake's shoreline and islands. Many New Zealanders were very upset about this. They formed groups and protested to "Save Manapouri." This campaign was one of New Zealand's first major environmental protests.

After the 1972 New Zealand general election, the new Prime Minister, Norman Kirk, decided to listen to the public's concerns. He surprisingly created the Guardians group to protect the lakes. He asked Alan Mark, a leader from the Save Manapouri Campaign, to lead this new group.

Who are the Guardians?

The Guardians are appointed by the government. The Conservation Act 1987 explains their duties and roles. Since 1998, the law says that at least one Guardian must be chosen by Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu. This is the main tribal council for the Ngāi Tahu Māori people, who have a strong connection to the land and lakes.

Important Past Guardians

The first six Guardians were all key figures in the Save Manapouri Campaign. They were chosen by Prime Minister Norman Kirk.

• Alan Mark (who later became a knight) was the first chairperson and led the group for 26 years.
• Ron McLean
• Wilson Campbell
• Les Hutchins
• John Moore
• Jim McFarlane

Current Guardians

Today, the Guardians continue their important work. The current members are:

• Darryl Sycamore (chairperson)
• Bill Jarvie
• Dave Riddell
• Dr. Jane Kitson (representing Ngāi Tahu)
• Madeleine Peacock (deputy chairperson)
• Sandra Cook (representing Ngāi Tahu)
• Dr. Sue Bennett
• Tom Ives