The economy of the lower Wanganui River Valley

Abstract

Officials of the Ministry of Works and the State Hydro Department are at present investigating the lower valley of the Wanganui River to see if it is suitable for a hydro electric power scheme. The investigations have been labelled the 'Atene Project' as it is near the settlement of Atene that the dam will probably arise if it is built. When the scheme was first made public in 1958 the dam was to be constructed of earth and over 500 feet in height. The lake formed behind it was to stretch for 90 miles back as far as Taumarunui. Since then the scheme has changed several times as the engineers faced various problems. Even today the form of the final scheme is not known as investigations have not been completed. When the engineers have finished the Government in power must decide whether the country can afford the scheme. This lack of finality on the part of the engineers places certain difficulties in the way of an economic investigation of the valley. Such questions as 'how much farm land will be flooded?' and 'how much farm land left?' cannot be answered until the height of the dam is known. It has been assumed in this investigation that the dam will be situated at Atene.