Fast-track watch: where things stand for Aotearoa’s rivers

Last updated: June 2026

The Fast-track Approvals Act lets major projects win consent quickly, with little public input. Several affect whitewater rivers. Here is where the ones we are watching stand (for general info on the act in a whitewater context, see here). We will endeavour to update this as things change.

Environmental decision-making is also changing: in late May 2026, the Ministry for the Environment was merged into a new ministry that combines the environment with development, cities and transport. Whilst the impact this will have on the Fast-Track process is unclear at present, what does remain clear is that an independent voice for rivers is more important than ever.

Good results:

Tekapo and Pukaki (Genesis Energy). Approved, no change for paddlers. The Tekapo Power Scheme consent renewal passed in late 2025 with no change to recreational releases. Thanks to the Tekapo Whitewater Trust for the mahi coordinating with Genesis.

Wairoa, Tauranga (Kaimai scheme, Manawa Energy). Approved, no change for paddlers. The Kaimai Hydro-Electric Power Scheme consent renewal went through Fast-track with no change to recreational releases, and the gauge data stays publicly available. This makes this item resolved, and with a good result – the new consent runs for 35 years. Kaimai Canoe Club will keep scheduling the 26 release days a year (10 am to 4 pm) with Manawa Energy. A big thanks to Kaimai Canoe Club for the work on this, and for all their prior long-term management of the scheme.

Knocked back, for now:

Kaituna / Ōkere lower gorges, Bay of Plenty. Referral returned. Taheke 8C’s scheme would divert much of the river through a canal, drowning the top of Pari Whakahihi (Awesome Gorge) and cutting flows through the lower gorges. These are world-class runs, a training ground for our slalom paddlers, and among the few grade III to V sections in the North Island not already tied to dam releases. Whitewater NZ opposes this scheme and is fighting it alongside river iwi, the Ōkere community and paddlers, including Luuka Jones and the board’s own Mike Dawson. In all, the community’s support for opposition has been overwhelming, which has been awesome to see. As anticipated by WWNZ through our publicly voiced criticism of the project, the referral application was deemed formally non-compliant by the in its current state on May 1st 2025, and was returned to Taheke 8C. No further updates are known to WWNZ at this time, but the application has not been declined and can be reconsidered if a compliant referral application is submitted. Whilst this initial pushback is a win for the Kaituna awa, we continue to monitor the situation closely.

Approved, with protections secured:

Waitaha, West Coast. Approved. Westpower’s run-of-river scheme at the top of Morgan Gorge was granted fast-track approval in April 2026. Following the National Party’s campaign promise to get this scheme approved after it was turned down by Minister for the Environment David Parker in 2019, Whitewater NZ made the tough call to neither oppose nor endorse the project. Ahead of the Fast-Track decision, we negotiated an agreement with Westpower that secures recreational protections and compensation for the impact on paddling, while in exchange making it clear we remain neutral on the scheme itself. Our reasoning why is detailed further in this post from May 2025. Wider conservation and recreation groups, including FMC and Forest & Bird, oppose it and have signalled possible legal action.

Still live, and worth watching:

Mangahao (Manawatū-Whanganui). Referred into Fast-track. The reconsenting of the Mangahao Hydro-Electric Power Scheme is now in the Fast-track process. This is the consent that shapes the future of Mangahao flows and releases, and it sits behind the Mangahao Fund. We are following it closely and are actively engaging with KCE/Contact Energy to secure Resource Consent conditions that keep the interests of whitewater users impacted by the scheme prioritised.

Rangitaiki (Wheao scheme, Manawa Energy). Listed, no decision yet. A reconsenting ahead of the scheme’s 2026 expiry. Our concern is the minimum flow, which, if lowered, could affect the recreational opportunities on the popular Jeffs Joy section. We are monitoring and engaging.

New projects can appear at any time. Even if none of these affect your home river, the next one might. If you hear of a project that could affect a river, tell us: communications@whitewater.nz, and become a member to back the work.

Mō ngā awa te aroha, he waiaroha — For the love of rivers