Central Waikato River Stability Management Strategy
This document presents a management strategy to sustainably manage the stability of the Waikato River system between the dam at Karapiro and the confluence with the Waipa River at Ngaruawahia. It provides a vision for what we want the river to look like in 50 years time and actions that will guide development close to the river through appropriate design and policy to ensure that the vision is achieved.
Why do we need a management strategy?
Through an investigation initiated through Project Watershed into the effects of the dam at Karāpiro, it was identified that degradation of the river bed was actively occurring with a predicted lowering of the river bed by 1.5m at Hamilton within the next 50 years.
Removing the dams or introducing physical structures in the river to stop degradation were not considered feasible for social, economic, cultural and environmental reasons. Hazard lines have been identified indicating areas judged to have a high risk of bank instability. These areas have been identified to assist decision makers in planning future land use. Site specific investigations of bank slope instability will be required to accurately define these lines.
Although the investigation into the degradation of the river bed was the catalyst for developing a management strategy, it is acknowledged that there are a number of other influences on the river system which also need to be managed under an overarching river stability strategy.
Read or download the strategy
Supporting technical documents
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Analysis of Stage II Degradation Studies Waikato River, Karapiro to Ngaruawahia - Part 1
385 KB
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Analysis of Stage II Degradation Studies Waikato River, Karapiro to Ngaruawahia - Part 2
1.2 MB
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Degradation of the Waikato River, Karapiro to Ngaruawahia, Review of Existing Knowledge & Recommendations for Future Work
561 KB
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Middle Waikato Bed Degradation Investigation Stages III & IV. Stage IV: Bed Degradation Management Strategy
449 KB
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Middle Waikato Bed Degradation Investigation Stages III & IV. Proposed Middle Waikato River Bed Degradation Management Strategy: Appendices - Part 1
1.2 MB
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Middle Waikato Bed Degradation Investigation Stages III & IV. Proposed Middle Waikato River Bed Degradation Management Strategy: Appendices - Part 2
1023 KB
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Waikato River Bank Erosion Survey (Taupo Gates to Ngaruawahia) - Assessment Report
9.1 MB
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Waikato River Bed Degradation Analysis 2012
32 MB
The report below was prepared for Mighty River Power Limited by URS New Zealand Limited. This report is displayed on this website for general informational purposes only. It is subject to the limitations set out in section 10. In addition, neither URS New Zealand Limited or Mighty River Power Limited:
- provide any warranty as to the accuracy and completeness of this report; or
- accept any liability for any reliance placed on it.
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Waikato River 2006 Survey Report, Karapiro Dam to Ngaruawahia - Part 1
314 KB
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Waikato River 2006 Survey Report, Karapiro Dam to Ngaruawahia - Part 2
1.2 MB
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Waikato River 2006 Survey Report, Karapiro Dam to Ngaruawahia - Part 3
1.2 MB
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Waikato River 2006 Survey Report, Karapiro Dam to Ngaruawahia - Part 4
741 KB