The Matahina Power Scheme, situated on the Rangitaiki River in the Bay of Plenty, was commissioned in 1967.

After sustaining damage in the 1987 Edgecumbe earthquake (Richter scale magnitude 6.3), the scheme was decommissioned from December 1987 until mid 1988 to allow for repairs in order to reduce the dam’s hazard rating. It was also decommissioned in 1997-1998 for strengthening.

With a 76-metre gross head of water behind its 86-metre high dam (the largest earth dam in the North Island), the Matahina scheme has two generators producing 80 MW to give an average annual output of 290 GWh.

Consistent with TrustPower’s drive to optimise water to power conversion efficiency (and hence environmental efficiency) consideration is being given to the feasibility of re-engineering existing turbines using state-of- the-art analysis tools.

Existing Resource Consents for the Matahina Scheme expire in late 2009, and the TrustPower Environmental Team has been engaging with affected parties and interest groups as part of its overall re-consenting programme.