Waipa River

Story

The Waipa River is in the Waikato region of the North Island of New Zealand. The headwaters are in the Rangitoto Range east of Te Kuiti. It flows north for 115km, passing through Otorohanga and Pirongia, before flowing into the Waikato River at Ngaruawahia. It is the Waikato's largest tributary. The Waipa's main tributary is the Puniu River.In the headwaters upstream of Otorohanga the river can be very clear during low flow conditions. This section of the river flows through rough farmland and patches of native bush. In this clearer part of the river there can be very good fly fishing for trout, but you'll need to ask the land owners permission to access the river.The Waipa is prone to flooding in its lower reaches as flood flows can be over 100 times—20to—those of dry flows and the river can rise up to 11m.In 2013 Maniapoto Māori Trust Board and the riparian local councils set up a joint management agreement for the river.Speed of flowThe table below shows the time water takes to flow the 130km from Te Kuiti to its confluence with the Waikato in times of low flow (15% of days are slower than this) and high flow (15% of days faster) -Power stationsIn 2003 Hydro Power Ltd was given consent to build a hydro-electric power station, with weirs in the Okahukura Stream, upstream from Owen Falls, and penstocks carrying water down the gorge to a station on the west bank 2.5km below the falls. Work was done in 2006, but, in 2007, Hydro Energy (Waipa) Ltd was fined for unconsented damage to native vegetation in building the penstock. The resource was initially estimated to be able to generate 10 to 20MW. Construction halted, though Renewable Power bought the asset in 2010 and estimates potential at 9MW.