Whakamaru
Encyclopedia
Whakamaru is a town in the central region of the North Island
of New Zealand
. The Maori words 'whaka' and 'maru' literally mean to give shelter to, or safeguard.
The town was originally established as accommodation for the Whakamaru Power Station
(Whakamaru Hydro Power Station) in New Zealand
. As well as being a significant contributor of electricity
, the Whakamaru complex is the main switching station for the upper Waikato hydropower
stations and manages the transmission system for Auckland
. Transpower
are in the process of applying for consent to build a new transmission line between Whakamaru and Auckland
.
During the summer months Lake Whakamaru is used extensively for water skiing
. The Whakamaru Water Ski Club is very busy during the Christmas holidays, although water skiing courses are normally available all year round.
Kiwiburn
, the New Zealand Burning Man
regional, has been held annually at the Whakamaru Domain, State Highway 30, since 2007.
Whakamaru has a residents and rate payers association known as WRRA.
There is a grocer shop, That Dam Cafe, Ned's Place (a licensed pizza parlour) and a garage which cater for local people and the passing traffic.
Awhina Wilderness Experience http://www.awhinatours.co.nz take guided walks on the nearby Mt Titiraupenga.
North Island
The North Island is one of the two main islands of New Zealand, separated from the much less populous South Island by Cook Strait. The island is in area, making it the world's 14th-largest island...
of New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. The Maori words 'whaka' and 'maru' literally mean to give shelter to, or safeguard.
The town was originally established as accommodation for the Whakamaru Power Station
Whakamaru Power Station
Whakamaru Power Station is a hydroelectric power station on the Waikato River, in the North Island of New Zealand. It was the fourth hydroelectric power station on the Waikato River to be installed....
(Whakamaru Hydro Power Station) in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. As well as being a significant contributor of electricity
Electricity
Electricity is a general term encompassing a variety of phenomena resulting from the presence and flow of electric charge. These include many easily recognizable phenomena, such as lightning, static electricity, and the flow of electrical current in an electrical wire...
, the Whakamaru complex is the main switching station for the upper Waikato hydropower
Hydropower
Hydropower, hydraulic power, hydrokinetic power or water power is power that is derived from the force or energy of falling water, which may be harnessed for useful purposes. Since ancient times, hydropower has been used for irrigation and the operation of various mechanical devices, such as...
stations and manages the transmission system for Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
. Transpower
Transpower New Zealand Limited
Transpower New Zealand Limited is the state-owned enterprise responsible for electric power transmission in New Zealand. Transpower performs two major functions in the New Zealand Electricity Market...
are in the process of applying for consent to build a new transmission line between Whakamaru and Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
.
During the summer months Lake Whakamaru is used extensively for water skiing
Water skiing
thumb|right|A slalom skier making a turn on a slalom waterski.Waterskiing is a sport where an individual is pulled behind a boat or a cable ski installation on a body of water, skimming the surface.-History:...
. The Whakamaru Water Ski Club is very busy during the Christmas holidays, although water skiing courses are normally available all year round.
Kiwiburn
Kiwiburn
Kiwiburn is a regional Burning Man event celebrating principles such as inclusion, radical self-expression, gifting, participative art and culture.-History:...
, the New Zealand Burning Man
Burning Man
Burning Man is a week-long annual event held in the Black Rock Desert in northern Nevada, in the United States. The event starts on the Monday before the American Labor Day holiday, and ends on the holiday itself. It takes its name from the ritual burning of a large wooden effigy on Saturday evening...
regional, has been held annually at the Whakamaru Domain, State Highway 30, since 2007.
Whakamaru has a residents and rate payers association known as WRRA.
There is a grocer shop, That Dam Cafe, Ned's Place (a licensed pizza parlour) and a garage which cater for local people and the passing traffic.
Awhina Wilderness Experience http://www.awhinatours.co.nz take guided walks on the nearby Mt Titiraupenga.