Lakes

Bay of Plenty’s lakes are a treasure of the region, with 18 located in the in Rotorua Lakes area. These lakes are popular for many forms of recreation and are a taonga to the people of Te Arawa.

With a focus on preserving our lakes for present and future generations, we are partners of the Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Programme alongside Rotorua Lakes Council and the Te Arawa Lakes Trust. Under this programme, we've set up land use change agreements with landowners to reduce contaminants entering the lakes and establish permanent land use change.

We are also implementing engineering solutions, including phosphorous locking treatment, to remove nutrients from Lake Rotorua.

We recognise and provide for Te Mana o te Wai (the intrinsic value of water).

For more information, please visit the Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Programme website.

Ōkere Gates and Ōhau Channel

Both the Ōkere Gates and Ōhau Weir are man-made structures to help control water levels in lakes.

The Ōkere Gates were constructed in 1982 to regulate the flow of water from Lake Rotoiti into the Kaituna River. The Ōhau Weir was constructed in 1989 to control water level fluctuations in Lake Rotorua.

Bay of Plenty Regional Council was granted a resource consent for the ongoing operation of the Ōkere Gates and the Ōhau Weir on 26 March 2012 after consultation and negotiation with a number of key stakeholders.

Two kaitiaki groups and the Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Operational Liaison Group provide a voice for the community. These two groups are supported by Council, to ensure interested community members can have input into the monitoring and management of the Gates and Weir.

If you would like more information about the operation of the Ōkere Gates or Ōhau Weir please phone the engineering team at Bay of Plenty Regional Council on 0800 884 880.

Cultural Management Plan for Ōkere Gates and Ōhau Weir:

Meeting minutes

See more information below regarding Lake Rotorua events, closures and health warnings.

More information

Rotorua Lake events and closures

Rotorua Lake health warnings