Kaniere Water Race Walkway Brochure - Department of Conservation

Natural Features
The first 400m of the track passes through cool and shady forest,
dominated by young rimu and kamahi. Beside the track at ground
level, you may see a number of tiny native plants, including nertera
(with small orange berries), panakenake (with pink berries) and
dainty umbrella moss.
Soon, the bush opens out to an
area that was logged and burnt in
the 1920’s. Here, the ground is wet
and infertile so native regrowth is
slow. Further along, dense stands
of manuka are being replaced with
kamahi, rimu, celery pine, silver pine,
and the distinctive stringy-barked New
Zealand cedar. Another notable tree
is the Westland quintinia - the new
foliage is a bright yellow-green, and
mature green leaves turn bronze when
exposed to the sun, as seen alongside
the track. Other common plants here
include lancewood (the juveniles
looking like skeleton umbrellas), two
species of tree fern and the graceful,
New Zealand Cedar (photo: DOC) but ‘lethal’ cutty grass.
In some places, the vegetation and even the ground are covered
with black sooty mould. This fungus grows in humid conditions,
living on the sugary deposits left by sap-sucking scale insects.
You may be lucky enough to see an orchid or two, drooping down
from their perches on tree trunks. The most common two species
have fragrant creamy flowers in summer and autumn.
If you are quiet, you may hear the native parakeet kakariki (chattery
squawk), fernbird (squeaky cheep cheep) or the raucous cry of
a kea. Birds you are likely to see include the tomtit, grey warbler,
fantail, tui, bellbird and the native wood pigeon kereru.
In places, freshwater mussels can be seen in the sediment at the
bottom of the race. Known as kakahi, these bland tasting native
shellfish were often eaten as a convenience food by the Maori.
After crossing Ward Road, the track passes through mature forest
with large rimu, miro, and totara spreading their crowns high
above the forest canopy. A dense understorey thrives below, and
ferns are abundant on the forest floor.
Safety
The walkway follows an open water race. Children should be
closely supervised and walkers should keep to the track. Strong
shoes or boots are recommended. The water race is unsafe for
swimming due to a strong flow and high water levels through
tunnels. Track walkers should be aware of mountain bikers.
The original Johnson’s flume, kept in use from 1909 until 1973 (photo: DOC collection)
Further information
www.doc.govt.nz
Hokitika Area Office &
West Coast Conservancy Office
Department of Conservation
Private Bag 701
HOKITIKA
Ph 03 756 9100
Fax 03 756 9188
e: westcoast@doc.govt.nz
Published by
Department of Conservation
West Coast Tai Poutini Conservancy
2009
Crown copyright
Printed on 100%
recycled paper
using vegetable
based inks
Produced with
the assistance of
Protect plants and animals
Remove rubbish
Bury toilet waste
Keep streams and lakes clean
Take care with fires
Camp carefully
Keep to the track
Consider others
Respect our cultural heritage
Enjoy your visit
Toitu te whenua
(Leave the land undisturbed)
Water race fluming (photo: Inger Perkins)
Kaniere Water
Race Walkway
Hokitika Area
West coast tai poutini FRee
Kaniere Power Scheme
CENTENARY
1909 - 2009

Introduction History
The Kaniere Water Race Walkway provides an opportunity for
a pleasant bush walk in an area that is rich in history. It follows
a 9km water race from Lake Kaniere to Kennedy Creek, which
feeds a small hydro electric power station at nearby Kaniere
Forks. This power station, first built in 1907, began generating
power on 8 September 1909. It supplied the first electric power
to Central Westland and continues to pump out an average of 3.5
gigawatthours of power annually into the national grid.
Walking the Track
Time: 3.5 - 4 hours
Distance: 10 km
The track, suitable for people of average fitness, follows the
historic Kaniere water race as it meanders along the edge of the
Lake Kaniere Scenic Reserve. Although the track can be walked
in either direction, the recommended route is to start at the lake
(park at The Landing) and follow the flow of water down the gentle
gradient of the race to finish at Kennedy Creek (park at the layby
on Kaniere Road). Whichever way the trip is made, return transport
will need to be arranged for the other end. Shorter sections of the
track can be walked, the most popular being the easier stretch
from The Landing to Ward Road (1 hour).
The track is popular for mountain biking. The stretch
between The Landing and Ward Road is easy mountain
biking, while the remaining section is more suitable for
intermediate/advanced bikers.
This historic water race has been operating since 1875, supplying
water first for gold sluicing operations, and later to turn the
turbines at the power house, generating electricity for both gold
mines and domestic supply.
Water for gold sluices
The water race was built in 1875 to carry water 20 km from Lake
Kaniere to struggling gold claims at Kaniere. The enormous cost
of 23,800 pounds didn’t pay off, as the goldfield continued to
decline and the race was abandoned only six years later.
In 1889, another mining company made use of the first 5km of the
race, adding a smaller 4km branch to supply their sluice claims
at Kaniere Forks and Bluebottle Creek. This is the path that the
current water race follows.
Electricity supply to gold mines
In 1907, the water race was taken over by Ross Goldfields Ltd,
who built a power house at the Forks to provide elecricity for their
water pumps. The race was modified, and two iron pipes were
installed, dropping the final 80 metres to the station to provide
sufficient volume and pressure to drive the two 350 kilowatt
turbines. From 1909, electricity flowed to the mine workings in
Ross, until the mine closed in 1916.
That same year, a concrete weir was constructed at the lake outlet,
raising the lake level by half a metre to ensure a reliable water
supply to the power station. A new power company took over the
scheme and supplied electricity for water pumps at Woodstock
and Rimu sluice claims, and to a flax mill near Kaniere.
The power plant was sold again in 1920, this time to supply a large
gold dredging operation at Rimu. Power was also supplied to
Hokitika Borough and the Westland Hospital. The dredge caused
such huge power fluctuations that in 1931 another power station
was built at nearby McKays Creek (the race and fluming can be
seen from the track). The Rimu dredge ceased operation in 1953.
Domestic power supply
In 1960, both stations were taken over by the Westland Electric
Power Board to supply electricity to Hokitika Borough and the
wider Westland County. By 1969, the operation became fully
automatic. Two fires at the Kaniere Forks station, one in 1979
and another in 1981, caused extensive damage resulting in a
total rebuild. Fortunately, the turbines and generators were able
to be restored and are now the oldest commercially operating
equipment of this kind in New Zealand.
Power generation recommenced in 1983, and the station
continues to generate approximately 420 kilowatts, enough to
supply more than 100 homes in Westland.
TrustPower took over the power scheme in April 1999, and works
with the Department of Conservation to keep the historic water
race walkway available to the public.
As you walk the track, look out for these features:
• The intake for the water race is at the Landing near the
outlet of Lake Kaniere. You’ll see two control gates that
regulate water flow into the race and into the Kaniere River.
•
•
Most of the race is channelled in the ground but where this
is unstable, you’ll see that the sides have been timbered.
Look for tunnels through rises and spurs.
• Timber fluming allows the water race to cross gullies. Heart
rimu was predominantly used to construct the water race,
but repairs are now carried out using treated pine. In some
places, the original, durable silver pine posts can be seen.
•
•
Features of the Water Race
There are a number of large side creeks that are flumed
either under or over the water race.
Look for overflow sections where excess water is released
to maintain an even water volume for the power station.
• Occasionally, you’ll see the Kaniere River flowing well
below the level of the water race. This difference of up to
97m is essential to give a ‘head’ of water sufficient to drive
the turbines at the power station.
• Where the water race crosses steeper hillsides, you’ll
notice a lot more tunnels and flumes, especially just after
Ward Road. The longest tunnel, constructed in 1907
through ‘Tunnel Hill’ is 2km long. From this point, although
the race is seldom seen, it is never far away.