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Whakamatau / Lake Coleridge

Depth: 200 metres

Area: 3688 hectares

Altitude: 450 metres

Lake ID: 48451

Main vegetation type:
Low Producing Grassland

Arthur’s Pass

Canterbury
43° 17' 34" S
171° 29' 44" E
Highland

Iwi / representative groups:

  • Ngāi Tahu
    • Te Ngāi Tūāhuriri Rūnanga

Description

The glacially carved Whakamatau (Lake Coleridge) is located north of the Rakaia River in the Canterbury high country. Whakamatau was an important place to rest and replenish supplies (mahinga kai) for Ngai Tahu who gathered kakapo, weka, and tuna here, on route to the West Coast (https://www.kahurumanu.co.nz/atlas).
Lake Coleridge was the first government-built Hydro Electric Power station in New Zealand. Operational since 1914, water is diverted from the Wilberforce and Harper Rivers, and the Acheron Stream, into Lake Coleridge for storage. Gravity is used to power the station with Lake Coleridge sitting 170 m above the Rakaia River. At the time it was a significant engineering feat because the station was built on glacial moraine (shingle) which had never been achieved before.
Lake and wetland areas provide habitat for native long and short-finned eels; a range of water birds including the endemic Australasian Crested Grebe whose primary breeding area is Canterbury high country lakes; and highly valued recreational sports fish (trout and salmon). The Coleridge Habitat Enhancement Trust (CHET) was established to protect and restore native habitats affected by the lake engineering. Since 2015 the lake has also supplied water for irrigation to the Canterbury plains (https://www.lakecoleridge.co.nz/history.html)

48451
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Home

Our Lakes

  • All Lakes
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    • Northland
    • Auckland
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    • Hawke’s Bay
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    • Manawatū/Whanganui
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    • Tasman
    • West Coast
    • Marlborough
    • Canterbury
    • Otago
    • Southland
  • Coastal Lakes
  • Lowland Lakes
  • Highland Lakes
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About

  • The Project
  • The Science
    • Field Sampling
    • Laboratory Analysis
    • Student Projects
  • Science Aims
  • Rohe Studies
    • Rangitīkei Iwi Rohe Study
    • Wairarapa Moana iwi rohe study
  • Virtual Experience
  • Social Science
  • Iwi Relationships
  • The Team
    • Lakes380 Team
    • Advisory Groups
    • Lakes380 Co-lead Institutes​
    • National Collaborators
    • International Collaborators
  • Partners

Resources

  • Contact & Links
  • Blog, News & Publications
  • Video Gallery
  • Results
  • Glossary