Matahina

Location
Rangitāiki River

Commissioned
1967

Max Capacity
77 MW

Annual Output
284 GWh

Matahina's 86m earth dam on the Rangitāiki River is the largest of its kind in the North Island. Three hydro schemes operate along the river: Wheao & Flaxy (furthest upstream, also operated by Contact), Aniwhenua, and Matahina. The Matahina Power Station has two generators: one optimised for low flows and the other for high flows. Please take care when swimming, fishing, or boating in the Rangitāiki River, as generation can cause rapid changes in water flow. Omataroa Kaitiaki Limited and the Kōkopu Trust run a trap and transfer programme at Matahina, helping elver and other native fish reach habitats upstream of the dam. 

Matahina Dam traffic management - upcoming full or partial road closures.  

Read more about the Rangitāiki Environment Fund here. 

River Flows and Modified Operating Regime

In June 2016, the Modified Operating Regime was implemented. This meant a new minimum flow came into effect. The minimum flow of 35m3/s must be maintained at the flow recording site at Te Teko. 

Real time information on the flows and levels within the Rangitaiki River as measured at Te Teko can be found on the Bay of Plenty Regional Council monitoring page. 

The term ‘operating peak’ is defined as an increase in the discharge from the Matahina Dam (being a combination of discharges from the power station and over the spillway) to a constant flow for no less than 30 minutes followed by a subsequent decrease in the flow being discharged.