Mokihinui Hydro facts for kids

The Mokihinui Hydro was a plan to build a big dam and power station on the Mōkihinui River in New Zealand. This river is located on the West Coast of the South Island. The project was going to be built on land set aside for nature. A company called Meridian Energy planned this project, and it was expected to cost about $300 million!

In 2010, Meridian Energy got permission to build the dam. However, the Department of Conservation (a government group that protects nature) disagreed with the plan. They took their concerns to a special court called the Environment Court. In 2012, Meridian Energy decided to stop the project. They cancelled it because it was too expensive, and there were many worries about how it would affect the environment.

What Was the Mokihinui Hydro Project?

The Mokihinui Hydro power station was designed to be quite powerful. It was planned to generate 85 megawatts (114,000 hp) of electricity. This means it could produce about 360 gigawatt-hours (1,300 TJ) of power each year. That's a lot of electricity! It was even more than the entire West Coast region used in a year.

The dam itself was going to be very tall, about 85 metres (279 ft) high. When the dam was built, it would have created a large lake. This lake would have been about 14 kilometres (8.7 mi) long and covered 330 hectares (820 acres) of native forest.

Why Was This Project Important?

The project aimed to help the Upper South Island get more electricity. At the time, this area didn't produce enough power for its own needs. Most of its electricity had to travel over 600 kilometres (370 mi) from another part of New Zealand. The Mokihinui Hydro project would have provided a local source of power.

Who Was Involved in the Planning?

Meridian Energy started looking into building a dam on the Mōkihinui River in 2006. They even looked at old studies from the 1960s and 1970s. In 2007, Meridian Energy talked to many groups and people who might be affected by the dam.

In 2008, the local council asked the public for their opinions on Meridian's plans. Many groups shared their thoughts. For example, Forest and Bird, a well-known conservation group, was against the dam.

Could People Still Enjoy the Area?

Meridian Energy said that the new lake created by the dam would offer fun activities. They planned to add boat ramps so people could use boats on the lake. There was also a plan for a walking and biking track called the Old Ghost Road. This track would follow an old gold miners' path.

Why Did People Oppose the Dam?

Many different groups and people were against the Mokihinui Hydro project. They had several reasons for their opposition:

• Nature and Scenery: The Mōkihinui River and the 330 hectares (820 acres) of forest that would be flooded were very special. They had high natural value and were considered a beautiful, scenic river.
• Outdoor Activities: The river was popular for exciting whitewater activities like rafting and kayaking. The surrounding area was also loved for tramping (hiking). People worried these activities would be lost.

Here are some of the groups that opposed the project:

• Buller Conservation Group
• Council of Outdoor Recreation Associations of NZ
• Department of Conservation
• Federated Mountain Clubs
• Fish and Game New Zealand
• Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society of New Zealand
• Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand
• NZ Federation of Freshwater Anglers
• New Zealand Historic Places Trust
• NZ Rafting Association
• NZ Recreational Canoeing Association
• West Coast Environmental Network
• West Coast Tai Poutini Conservation Board
• West Coast Waitbaiter's Association
• World Wildlife Fund NZ

In 2010, the Department of Conservation officially appealed the decision to allow Meridian Energy to build the dam. This showed how serious their concerns were about protecting the environment.