The Guardians of Lakes Manapouri, Te Anau and later Monowai, will mark its 50th anniversary this year.
In 1973, the New Zealand government appointed members of the public to monitor and hold a hydro-electric power corporation to account for the environmental, social and cultural impacts of the operation of the Manapouri power scheme. This group became known as Guardians of Lakes Manapouri, Te Anau and later Monowai, and its advocacy work still continued today, it said in a statement yesterday.
"The formation of this group set an international precedent at the time," Guardians chairwoman Madeleine Peacock said.
"There was huge opposition to Lakes Manapouri and Te Anau being raised to generate hydro-electric power. A ‘Save Manapouri’ campaign was forged by locals who felt strongly that it would have a negative outcome for the environment as well as the communities. It would have been an ecological tragedy.
"The incoming government of the day responded by creating the Guardians of the Lakes as a statutory body, whose functions are now set out under the Conservation Act 1987 and is serviced by the Department of Conservation."
New Zealanders’ belief that conservation and development could co-exist — and that it should — was shown by the creation of the Guardians, she said.
"At the time of our establishment there were very few governments with the foresight to form a body like this to work with a hydro-power operator to create guidelines around maintaining the natural values of the lakes," Ms Peacock said.
"The Guardians’ role has become more complex over time with the introduction of the Resource Management Act, climate change affecting inflows, the introduction of the wholesale spot power market in the ’90s and the second tailrace tunnel.
"All of these have added layers of change that we have had to adapt to."
The group was hoping to get every person who has been a guardian over the past 50 years to come back to Manapouri for a celebration, set to be over a weekend in the first half of this year.
It would be a chance to go over past times and visit the lakes. Meridian Energy was organising a tour of the Manapouri power station, Ms Peacock said.
There have been 37 Guardians since the creation of the group. Three new members were appointed in 2022.
The new Guardians were David Barnes, Sacha Jugum and Ailsa Cain, bringing the total members to eight.
Ms Peacock, Dr Sue Bennett and Darryl Sycamore were reappointed, while Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu representative Jane Kitson and Bill Jarvie are continuing their terms.
"The new members bring excellent skills and experience to complement that of the dedicated returning members."
Mr Barnes has experience with conservation boards, the New Zealand Conservation Authority and Federated Mountain Clubs.
Ms Jugum brings a strong legal background and has a great deal of knowledge about management of the lakes, power schemes and their operating guidelines. Her passion for Fiordland and Southland has led to her writing books about the area.
Ms Cain is a representative of Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu, and is the principal adviser at Kauati, an organisation offering a depth of experience in policy, strategy and legislative compliance.
Ms Cain’s specialist knowledge of te ao Maori was welcomed by the Guardians, Ms Peacock said.
By: Staff reporter
