Frequently Asked Questions

The Proprietors of Taheke 8C & Adjoining Blocks Incorporation (the Incorporation) is a Māori land incorporation established by the Māori Land Court in 1954. The Incorporation has more than 1300 shareholder whānau members managed by its Committee of Management (Committee).

The Committee includes kaumātua and pukenga who represent the whānau, hapū and iwi who hold mana whenua and exercise kaitiakitanga over the Incorporation whenua and associated resources. They are the ahi kā, mana whenua, kaitiaki and owners of their whenua. Taheke 8C whānau have links to hapū and iwi, but given the history of the incorporation’s inception see themselves as a whānau-based entity (i.e. not a hapū or an iwi).

The Committee has mandated its investment company, Taheke 8C Limited, to identify and pursue opportunities to develop Taheke whenua and resources as part of a green energy hub. The Taheke Geothermal Project, which was consented at the end of 2024, was the first green energy hub project, with the Taheke Hydroelectric Scheme the second. Others will come online over the coming years.

Taheke is proposing to use a run of river design on the Okere-Kaituna awa where it flows through our land. A run of river design uses the water as it runs downstream. It uses a weir to divert some of the flow of the awa. This design has become more common in modern hydropower developments.

Run of river schemes generate less electricity than traditional dams and hydro lakes but have less impact on the awa and the whenua overall.

Water will be diverted to a regulating pond before being piped down to a powerhouse where it will generate much needed renewable electricity. The water will then return to the Okere-Kaituna River.

For those who know, the Scheme starts below the trout pools and the water re-enters the awa about 3 kilometres further downstream.

The weir will divert water from the river into the power scheme on Taheke 8C’s land. This will reduce the flow along a section of river to where the water re-enters the river. In this stretch of river are two narrow gorges that will likely no longer be able to be kayaked. Kayaking or rafting above or below the Scheme will not be affected.

A minimum guaranteed flow of 2.5 cumecs (cubic metres per second) has been set for this section. Our scientists say this will keep the river alive and plant, fish and insect life may increase to it no longer being white water rapids.

The hydro scheme itself is being designed to improve the quality of the water flowing throw it with significant riparian planting and wetland developments to reduce the nutrient loading already in the awa.

The Scheme will be both regionally and nationally significant, providing much-needed renewable electricity generation. Producing up to 16.4MW during peak times. The scheme will generate enough power for the daily needs of over 12,000 homes, providing over 700 new jobs during construction and operation. The Scheme aligns Taheke 8C’s values as kaitiaki and is designed to improve the land and the river quality in this area.

Taheke 8C also wants to create opportunities for more of the community to safely access this part of the river.

No. The river where the Scheme is proposed has little fish life, including native species or trout. This is because of the speed of the water, the gorges and falls forming natural barriers to adult and juvenile fish moving up into that part of the river. It is thought that some fish and tuna (eels) wash down the river from Lake Rotoiti. Ngati Pikiao has a well-known tradition of translocating eels from the lower reaches of the Kaituna River to the Okere River and Lake Rotoiti. Trout was introduced to the Rotorua lakes later.

The kōrero of kaumātua says that because of the steepness and speed of the water in the gorges in that stretch of the awa, there have never been many native species. This has traditionally prevented species like tuna (eels) from migrating, which is why tuna were relocated from the lower reaches of the Kaituna River.

No. As explained above, there is little kai and no access to the stretch of the river that will be affected. Part of the design for the hydro scheme is a Mahinga Kai project.

Our plan is to improve the overall health of the river. The quality of the awa is not as good as it used to be due to nutrients (including sediment, nitrogen and phosphorus) from the lakes that feed it. Shoreline and floating wetlands in the regulating pond part of the scheme are being designed to remove some of this paru (contamination).

In the section of the river where the flow will be reduced, our scientists have recommended a minimum flow of 2.5 cumes to keep the awa alive.

Concern: “The developers’ proposal fails to uphold this principle – either through ignorance or intent.”

Taheke 8C Limited looks every day at the awa flowing through its land and the state it is in. To do nothing would not give effect to Te Mana o te Wai. As kaitiaki, Taheke 8C Limited will do something and will use funds from the Scheme to do it.

Taheke 8C Limited has chosen to design the Scheme in a way to purposefully seek improvements to a currently degraded part of the catchment. Through the Scheme design and its projects, we are expecting better cultural and environmental outcomes for the awa and its tributaries, improving the mauri of the awa and giving effect to Te Mana o te Wai. Taheke 8C Limited will do this working with mana whenua as we understand that what we do at Taheke must also seek to improve the water: Ki uta ki tai.

Concern: “Implementation of the dam will negatively affect the connection to the river for both the local community and visitors.”

The scheme and projects will enable greater use and connection to the river at Taheke. It will be safer and have an integrated open space system of accessways and habitat. Incorporating cultural, environmental and recreational elements will offer a better experience and connection with the awa and whenua for more of our community and whānau.

Concern: “No recreational mitigation for paddlers has been proposed.”

The Scheme does not impact the Trout Pools or the area prior to this, where rafting, kayaking and sledging occurs. It will affect those kayakers willing to risk the dangerous waters of the river currently within the proposed scheme footprint.

Mitigation in the form of a charitable trust will be available to support local initiatives, including safe water education and local recreational activities.

Concern: “The lower gorges are a taonga too special to be lost forever.”

The gorges will remain and will not be lost. They are a taonga of Taheke 8C Limited as the kaitiaki of the land and the awa that flows through it.

No. The Trout Pools is outside of the Scheme area and will not be impacted by the Scheme.