Mangahao Hydro-Electric Power Scheme

Project summary

The project is reconsenting the existing Mangahao Hydro-Electric Power Scheme (HEPS) to enable its continued operation and maintenance. It draws water from the Mangahao River and generates up to 39.9 megawatts of electricity, with an average annual output of 131 gigawatt-hours, which is sufficient to power approximately 20,000 homes. The project includes existing operation and maintenance activities occurring across multiple land parcels, including Crown land administered by the Department of Conservation.

The activities applied for include:

• damming, taking, diversion and use of water
• discharge of water and sediment
• disturbance of riverbeds
• deposition of sediment
• maintenance of structures within waterbodies
• building and placement of structures in waterbodies (included on a precautionary basis).

Project location

The scheme is located in the northern part of the Tararua Ranges, approximately 28 kilometres south-west of Palmerston North and 15 kilometres north-east of Levin.

First project referral application

A first referral application was made and accepted. This application was lodged on 24 July 2025. The Minister for Infrastructure referred the project to the Fast-track on 6 November 2025.

Read the first project referral

Second project referral application (updated scope)

This referral was re-lodged on 20 July 2026 to update the description of the project. The Minister for Infrastructure referred the project to the Fast-track on 21 September 2026.

Notice of decisions on application for referral of the Mangahao Hydro-Electric Power Scheme Reconsenting project