Lake Pūkaki hydro storage and dam resilience works

New Zealand's transition to a low-emissions future depends on a secure and reliable electricity system. As electricity demand continues to grow and periods of supply pressure become more common, Meridian Energy sought a way to strengthen energy security by making better use of existing renewable resources while new generation and storage projects are developed.

At the centre of the opportunity was Lake Pūkaki, one of New Zealand's most significant hydro storage assets. Meridian's proposal would unlock access to additional water already held within the lake, helping provide greater flexibility during periods of constrained electricity supply while supporting the resilience of the wider energy system.

Following ongoing concerns around electricity security, Meridian needed a pathway to access contingent hydro storage within Lake Pūkaki through the Fast-track Approvals process.

The challenge extended beyond electricity generation. Any proposal needed to carefully consider environmental, social and recreational values associated with the lake and wider Waitaki catchment while demonstrating that potential effects could be understood, managed and mitigated.

At the same time, lower operating lake levels created new infrastructure considerations. Meridian needed confidence that critical dam assets could continue to operate safely under a wider range of lake levels and that any required resilience upgrades would support long-term asset performance.

We partnered with Meridian to navigate the Fast-track Approvals process and develop an evidence-based pathway for the proposal.

Our multidisciplinary team brought together planners, environmental scientists, engineers and technical specialists to assess potential effects and informed support decision-making. We coordinated the approvals programme, prepared referral and substantive application documentation, and delivered technical assessments covering hydrology, hydrogeology, water quality, air quality, landscape, social impact, geotechnical engineering and infrastructure resilience.

By integrating environmental planning and engineering expertise, we helped Meridian build a robust understanding of how the proposal could support electricity security while responding to environmental and community considerations.

Alongside the approvals process, we assessed the resilience of Pūkaki Dam and surrounding infrastructure under lower lake operating levels. Our team designed additional rock armouring to strengthen protection against wave action at lower lake levels and support the long-term performance of this nationally significant asset.

This integrated approach enabled Meridian to progress a complex proposal with confidence, supported by technical evidence that balanced energy system needs with environmental stewardship. The project forms part of our broader planning, environmental impact assessment and permitting capability for energy infrastructure across Aotearoa New Zealand. The project application was successfully granted with appropriate conditions in July 2026.

Lake Pūkaki plays an important role in New Zealand's renewable energy network. By helping Meridian access additional existing hydro storage, the project supports greater flexibility within the electricity system during periods of supply pressure while longer-term generation solutions are brought online.

The project also demonstrates how energy security and environmental responsibility can be advanced together. Through detailed environmental assessments, stakeholder engagement and infrastructure resilience planning, the proposal was developed with a strong focus on understanding potential impacts and protecting the values that make the Lake Pūkaki and Waitaki catchment environment unique.

By bringing together environmental, planning and engineering specialists under one team, we helped Meridian advance a nationally significant project that supports a more resilient energy future for New Zealand's communities.