When the first race gets underway at Lake Karapiro for the 2010 World Rowing Championships – the lake will be celebrating 70 years since construction began.
Work began on Karapiro, the Waikato hydro system's second dam, in 1940 - and it proved a monumental project.
A shortage of labour and materials during the war meant progress was slow, and the dam took seven years to build instead of the scheduled three. The shortage of materials overseas also encouraged the use of New Zealand designed and manufactured components for the project. Adding to the difficulties, extensive boring showed it would be necessary to inject tens of thousands of tonnes of concrete into the foundations to control water seepage. It took great Kiwi ingenuity and innovation to complete the project.
Once the dam was completed, the Waikato river was allowed to slowly fill the spectacular new lake - submerging the existing Horahora power station. It still exists today - but under millions of tonnes of water at the bottom of the lake!
Legend has it that Karapiro was the stronghold of Maori chief O-Te-Ihingarangi, and was where the Ngati Haua and their Tauranga allies made a defensive pact during the land wars of 1864. It’s name comes from 'Kara', meaning stone and ‘piro’ which means evil-smelling.
Karapiro is 35 kilometres southeast of Hamilton, close to the town of Cambridge and is, quite simply, one of the finest, fairest and most picturesque rowing venues in the world.
Karapiro is the last in the chain of hydro power stations on the Waikato River and is 188km downstream of Lake Taupo. The lake is probably best known as a world-class rowing venue but is also the location for many other water sports events including yachting, powerboating and water-skiing.
