Wairoa River (Bay of Plenty)

The Wairoa River runs north into Tauranga Harbour at the western end of the Bay of Plenty in New Zealand's North Island.

Hydroelectric power

In the mid-1970s, the Tauranga Joint Generation Committee proposed a hydroelectric power scheme for the Opuiaki River and Wairoa River. The newly formed Kaimai Canoe Club opposed the scheme at the water rights headings, this was on the grounds that it would destroy fishing, sport and recreation for existing and future generations. A compromise was arrived at by allowing the release of water 26 days a year for whitewater recreation. The last dam diverts water around the river bed to the Ruahihi Power Station.
TrustPower is now the manager of the power scheme on the river.