Wainuiomata/Orongorongo Water Collection Area
The lush native forests and clear rivers of the Wainuiomata and Orongorongo catchment areas were recognised early on for their water supply potential. In 1880 an earth dam was constructed and a pipeline laid to Wellington. Since this time further developments have taken place. These include the construction of the Morton Dam in 1912, and construction of a weir and pipeline from the Orongorongo Catchment in 1926.
By the late 1980s the system had reached the end of its useful working life. Morton Dam was decommissioned and emptied of its water. In 1993 a new state-of-the-art treatment plant was built. Water is now taken directly from weirs in both the Wainuiomata and Orongorongo catchments. The new plant produces up to 60 million litres of high quality water per day and supplies about 15 percent of the water used by greater Wellington.
- How to get there
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The Wainuiomata/Orongorongo Water Collection Area is accessible by private vehicle
- Be a volunteer interpreter
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GW invites suitably skilled people to apply for our Volunteer Interpreter Programme
- Environment
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The forests in the Water Collection Area include superb rata podocarp, sub-tropical emergent forest above a canopy of hinau, kamahi, rewa rewa and tree ferns. Some black beech is found on drier sites, and silver beech on the high ridge-tops
- Guided tramping tours
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Bona fide tramping clubs may now apply to join one of the designated tramping tours in the Wainuiomata/Orongorongo Water Collection Area
- Guided walking tours
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Applications are now open for free monthly guided walks into some of the best pre-European lowland forest in the lower North Island
- Research
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Bona fide organisations wishing to visit the Water Collection Areas for the purposes of research may apply to the ranger for a guided tour
- Wainuiomata Hunting Ballot
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The annual hunting ballot for the Wainuiomata and Orongorongo Water Collection Areas closes on Monday, 15 February 2010.
- Contact the ranger
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Grant Timlin