Manapouri
THE SAVE MANAPOURI CAMPAIGN BY MATT MARTIN
Lake Manapouri is one of the most beautiful lakes in New Zealand, but this was put under threat with the proposition to raise the water level to power an aluminium smelter. Causes like the ecological impact of the lake being raised and the suspicions of secret provisions within the Manapouri-Te Anau development Act Pushed New Zealanders to begin” The Save Manapouri Campaign” This was New Zealand’s greatest environmental battle which involved protests including marches and petitions. The new legislations and newly appointed lake guardians put in place by the government were a direct result of the campaign and is considered the birth place for New Zealand’s environmental awareness.
The hydroelectric potential of Lake Manapouri had been noticed for a long time, but developing the lake into a hydroelectric energy supplier would require the Lakes water levels to rise tremendously. In 1960 the Government negotiated with Consolidated Zinc who was after cheap energy to power an alumiunm smelter at Tiwai Point and signed a formal agreement which gave the right to Consolidated Zinc to build a power station in Lake Manapouri and gave Consolidated Zinc exclusive water rights of Lake Manapouri for 99 years.
This violated the Nation Parks Act, which provided protection of the park. A subsequent legislation called the Manapouri-Te Anau Development Act was passed to validate the development of the dam.
This created public anger fuelled by the suspicion of secret stipulations in the agreements between the government and Consolidated Zinc.
This did not stop the creation of the plans. Consolidated Zinc was to dam Lake Manapouri and raise its water level equal to Lake Te Anau, approximately 26 metres higher. Subsequently this would merge the two lakes and ruin their natural beauty.
The Natural beauty of Lake Manapouri was something to saviour. It was a big tourist attraction that created a lot of revenue for New
Lake Manapouri is one of the most beautiful lakes in New Zealand, but this was put under threat with the proposition to raise the water level to power an aluminium smelter. Causes like the ecological impact of the lake being raised and the suspicions of secret provisions within the Manapouri-Te Anau development Act Pushed New Zealanders to begin” The Save Manapouri Campaign” This was New Zealand’s greatest environmental battle which involved protests including marches and petitions. The new legislations and newly appointed lake guardians put in place by the government were a direct result of the campaign and is considered the birth place for New Zealand’s environmental awareness.
The hydroelectric potential of Lake Manapouri had been noticed for a long time, but developing the lake into a hydroelectric energy supplier would require the Lakes water levels to rise tremendously. In 1960 the Government negotiated with Consolidated Zinc who was after cheap energy to power an alumiunm smelter at Tiwai Point and signed a formal agreement which gave the right to Consolidated Zinc to build a power station in Lake Manapouri and gave Consolidated Zinc exclusive water rights of Lake Manapouri for 99 years.
This violated the Nation Parks Act, which provided protection of the park. A subsequent legislation called the Manapouri-Te Anau Development Act was passed to validate the development of the dam.
This created public anger fuelled by the suspicion of secret stipulations in the agreements between the government and Consolidated Zinc.
This did not stop the creation of the plans. Consolidated Zinc was to dam Lake Manapouri and raise its water level equal to Lake Te Anau, approximately 26 metres higher. Subsequently this would merge the two lakes and ruin their natural beauty.
The Natural beauty of Lake Manapouri was something to saviour. It was a big tourist attraction that created a lot of revenue for New