Lake Tarawera
Lake Tarawera, meaning 'Burnt Spear' is one of the largest lakes in New Zealand. The lake was home to many small Maori villages and mission settlements,until the Tarawera eruption in 1886. Legend has it that a "waka wairua" (phantom canoe) appeared on the lake as a portent of death a few days prior to the eruption.
Lake Tarawera is a picturesque lake, famous for the size and condition of its rainbow trout. Several lakes in the area drain into it directly or via groundwater, along with geothermal springs on the southern and northern shores. Lake Tarawera is a deep lake; any water flowing in to it stays there for around 10 years.
| At a glance | |
| Lake size: | 4130 ha |
| Catchment area: | 14520 ha |
| Elevation: | 298 m |
| Average depth: | 50 m |
| Deepest point | 87.5 m |
| Formed: | 5000 years ago |
| Surface outflow via the Tarawera river |
Water Quality Status
Water quality in Lake Tarawera is good.
The long-term trend shows that Lake Tarawera water quality is declining and it does not meeting the communities expectations.
An Action Plan is in development. This will identify what interventions are required for Lake Tarawera to meet the water quality target
Catchment Map
Click here to view image of map
Target and Results
To meet community expectations Lake Tarawera needs a reduction of 12 tonnes of nitrogen and 1.2 tonnes of phosphorus.
|
Water Quality target |
2.6 |
|
2017 result |
3.1 |
|
2016 result |
3.0 |
Nutrient information
| Nitrogen | Phosphorus | |
|
Total load |
67.7 Tonnes |
5.5 Tonnes |
|
Target |
55.7 Tonnes |
4.3 Tonnes |
* Background sources include bare ground, native forest, rainfall, recreation and grasses.
Research Reports
| Author/s | Report Overview | View |
| ERI and University of Waikato | Modelling the impact of sewage reticulation on water quality of Lake Tarawera | Report 1.7MB |
| Louise Feathers Planning | On-Site Wastewater Capability at Lake Tarawera | Report 6.0MB |
Tarawera Lakes Restoration Plan
Read a copy of the final Tarawera Lakes Restoration Plan (1.43MB, pdf).
Research
Groundwater in the greater Lake Tarawera catchment: Notes and Summary of GNS Science Reports
Summary of feedback
Summary of feedback on Draft Tarawera Lakes Restoration Plan
Lake Tarawera Restoration Group
Working Party Objectives:
| Date | Agenda | Meeting Report | Minutes | Author |
| 4th August 2015 | Summary of feedback for Tarawera Lakes Restoration Plan | Minutes | K. Parcell | |
| 18 March 2015 | Agenda | Wastewater Disposal | Minutes | T. Long |
| Wastewater Scheme Briefing | A. Bell | |||
| 18 February 2015 | Agenda | Tarawera Action Plan Presentation | Minutes | A. Bruere/ K. Parcell |
