Manapouri

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Manapouri
Manapouri Above.JPG
Manapouri township
Manapouri
Coordinates: 45°34′0″S167°36′0″E / 45.56667°S 167.60000°E / -45.56667; 167.60000
CountryNew Zealand
Island South Island
Region Southland region
Territorial authorities of New Zealand Southland District
WardMararoa Waimea Ward
CommunityFiordland Community
Electorates
Government
 • Territorial authority Southland District Council
 • Regional council Southland Regional Council
 •  Mayor of Southland Rob Scott
 •  Southland MP Joseph Mooney
 •  Te Tai Tonga MP Tākuta Ferris
Area
[1]
 • Total1.36 km2 (0.53 sq mi)
Elevation
200 m (700 ft)
Population
 (June 2023) [2]
 • Total240
 • Density180/km2 (460/sq mi)
Local iwi Ngāi Tahu

Manapouri is a small town in Southland / Fiordland, in the southwest corner of the South Island, in New Zealand. The township is the westernmost municipality in New Zealand. [3] Located at the edge of the Fiordland National Park, on the eastern shore of Lake Manapouri, close to its outflow into the Waiau River, tourist boat services are based in the town.

Contents

Manapouri township is a 20-minute drive from Te Anau via State Highway 95 The town is the gateway to both Doubtful Sound and Dusky Sound and the starting point for many local walking tracks. It is a popular tourist destination, particularly during the summer months.

History

At the intersection of State Highway 95 and Hillside Road is a monument to the Save Manapouri campaign which marks the first mass environmental movement in New Zealand history.

The Manapouri Hydroelectric Power Station is located on the West Arm of Lake Manapouri, with most of the electricity generated serving the Tiwai Point Aluminium Smelter (which is announced to close at the end of 2024). [4] Workers at the power plant are ferried by boat from Manapouri, as there is no road access to the power station. Manapouri was declared the "highest consumer of water" in New Zealand in 2010 because of the power station, which consumes 41 percent of the fresh water consumed by the entire country. [5] In 2002, the Government rejected an application of a business, Southland Water 2000, to bottle 40,000 cubic metres of water in 20 hours, twelve times a year, before the water from the power station is released into Doubtful Sound. [6]

Demographics

Manapouri is described by Statistics New Zealand as a rural settlement. It covers 1.36 km2 (0.53 sq mi), [1] and had an estimated population of 240 as of June 2023, [2] with a population density of 176 people per km2. It is part of the larger Mararoa statistical area. [7]

Historical population for Manapouri
YearPop.±% p.a.
2006294—    
2013201−5.29%
2018222+2.01%
Source: [8]

Manapouri had a population of 222 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 21 people (10.4%) since the 2013 census, and a decrease of 72 people (−24.5%) since the 2006 census. There were 102 households, comprising 117 males and 108 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.08 males per female. The median age was 56.8 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 21 people (9.5%) aged under 15 years, 30 (13.5%) aged 15 to 29, 111 (50.0%) aged 30 to 64, and 63 (28.4%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 94.6% European/Pākehā, 9.5% Māori, 1.4% Asian, and 4.1% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 54.1% had no religion, 41.9% were Christian and 2.7% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 30 (14.9%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 51 (25.4%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $30,400, compared with $31,800 nationally. 15 people (7.5%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 108 (53.7%) people were employed full-time, and 36 (17.9%) were part-time. [8]

Facilities and attractions

Commercial services include a petrol station/garage, art gallery, cafes, shops, two restaurant and bars as well as overnight hotel, motel and motor camp accommodations. The small Te Anau Airport is situated 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) north of the township and serves both Te Anau and Manapouri.

There are several tourist boat excursions based in Manapouri to service the Fiordland Sounds to fishing charters and boat hire. Excursions originating at Pearl Harbour at the southern end of Manapouri township take tourists across Lake Manapouri to view the underground hydroelectric facility, or continue on by bus over Wilmot Pass to boat tours of Doubtful Sound, adding up to a full day trip.

The Save Manapouri memorial rock Manapourimonument.jpg
The Save Manapouri memorial rock

Walkways and cycleways

Day walks are the Circle Track, the Hope Arm Track, the Shallow Bay portion of the Kepler Track and the Frazers Beach Reserve [9] walkways.

Supply Bay Road and the Rainbow Reach area are reasonably cycle-friendly. The Manapouri-Te Anau Cycle trail is currently still under negotiation between the Department of Conservation and the Fiordland Trails Trust.

A natural monument, in the form of Monument Hill, lies across the lake from the township. This sharply pointed landmark beneath the Hunter Mountains to the west on Manapouri township is a prized destination for adventurous trampers.

Manapouri Camping Ground in autumn Mowog Creek.jpg
Manapouri Camping Ground in autumn

Kayaking

The eastern end of Lake Manapouri is open for kayak exploration, with 20 islands and many coves, beaches, lagoons, waterfalls, huts, portages and channels with in a day's return paddled from Manapouri township.

Lord of the Rings filming locations

Manapouri was a site of filming for Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings trilogy. During a late snowstorm one November, Manapouri Hall was used to film the scene in The Two Towers in which Frodo, Samwise and Gollum attempt to enter the black gates of Mordor. [10] According to Jackson, the townspeople only asked for a small fee for the film crew to use the hall but the production gifted a large sum for the refurbishment of the hall and in acknowledgement of the town's generosity. [11] The crew was not allowed to use large granite boulders located in the forest near Lake Manapouri and instead created artificial rocks, two of which were gifted to the townspeople. Other locations near the town were used for filming, including the Kepler Mire (for panning, aerial shots of the Dead Marshes and other swamps), Waiau River (for various shots of the River Anduin) and Norwest Lakes (for the iconic shot of the fellowship traversing mountain peaks). [12] It is also rumoured that locations in the Fiordland National Park were used in The Ring of Power season one, as a film crew were spotted near Manapouri. [13]

Wee Bookshop

Manapouri is home to the Wee Bookshop, made famous through the memoir of Ruth Shaw's. [14] The bookshops were built in 2020 and originally sold titles about the local region and conservation. [15] It now consists of three tiny bookshops [16] - one for adults, a smaller one for children, and now one for the blokes. [17]

Climate

Manapouri has an oceanic climate (Cfb) under the Köppen climate classification with mild summers and cool to cold winters. In a typical winter season, snowfalls and snow on the ground are likely on a handful of occasions. [18]

Climate data for Manapouri (1981−2010)
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecYear
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)20.8
(69.4)		20.6
(69.1)		18.2
(64.8)		14.9
(58.8)		11.6
(52.9)		8.4
(47.1)		8.1
(46.6)		10.0
(50.0)		12.7
(54.9)		14.9
(58.8)		16.5
(61.7)		18.9
(66.0)		14.6
(58.3)
Daily mean °C (°F)14.7
(58.5)		14.3
(57.7)		12.1
(53.8)		9.4
(48.9)		7.0
(44.6)		4.3
(39.7)		3.8
(38.8)		5.1
(41.2)		7.4
(45.3)		9.2
(48.6)		10.7
(51.3)		13.0
(55.4)		9.2
(48.6)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)8.5
(47.3)		8.0
(46.4)		6.1
(43.0)		4.0
(39.2)		2.3
(36.1)		0.3
(32.5)		−0.7
(30.7)		0.2
(32.4)		2.1
(35.8)		3.6
(38.5)		4.9
(40.8)		7.0
(44.6)		3.9
(39.0)
Average precipitation mm (inches)85.4
(3.36)		84.3
(3.32)		86.5
(3.41)		90.0
(3.54)		100.9
(3.97)		101.8
(4.01)		82.0
(3.23)		93.9
(3.70)		100.0
(3.94)		107.7
(4.24)		91.1
(3.59)		105.1
(4.14)		1,128.6
(44.43)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm)9.17.99.710.511.612.910.411.812.412.210.311.9130.6
Average relative humidity (%)78.583.685.388.990.891.491.491.485.482.676.476.385.2
Source: NIWA Climate Data [19]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fiordland</span> Geographical region of New Zealand

Fiordland is a geographical region of New Zealand in the south-western corner of the South Island, comprising the westernmost third of Southland. Most of Fiordland is dominated by the steep sides of the snow-capped Southern Alps, deep lakes, and its steep, glacier-carved and now ocean-flooded western valleys. The name "Fiordland" comes from a variant spelling of the Scandinavian word for this type of steep valley, "fjord". The area of Fiordland is dominated by, and very roughly coterminous with, Fiordland National Park, New Zealand's largest National Park.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fiordland National Park</span> National park on South Island of New Zealand

Fiordland National Park occupies the southwest corner of the South Island of New Zealand. It is by far the largest of the 13 national parks in New Zealand, with an area of 12,607 square kilometres (4,868 sq mi), and a major part of the Te Wāhipounamu a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The park is administered by the Department of Conservation. The southern ranges of the Southern Alps cover most of Fiordland National Park and, combined with the deep glacier-carved valleys.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Doubtful Sound / Patea</span> Fiord in New Zealand

Doubtful Sound / Patea is a fiord in Fiordland, in the far south west of New Zealand. It is located in the same region as the smaller but more famous and accessible Milford Sound / Piopiotahi. It took second place after Milford Sound as New Zealand's most famous tourism destination.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Manapouri Power Station</span> Dam in Fiordland National Park, Southland

Manapōuri Power Station is an underground hydroelectric power station on the western arm of Lake Manapouri in Fiordland National Park, in the South Island of New Zealand. At 854 MW installed capacity, it is the largest hydroelectric power station in New Zealand, and the second largest power station in New Zealand. The station is noted for the controversy and environmental protests by the Save Manapouri Campaign against raising the level of Lake Manapouri to increase the station's hydraulic head, which galvanised New Zealanders and was one of the foundations of the New Zealand environmental movement.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lake Manapouri</span> Lake in Southland Region, New Zealand

Lake Manapouri is located in the South Island of New Zealand. The lake is situated within the Fiordland National Park and the wider region of Te Wahipounamu South West New Zealand World Heritage Area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lake Te Anau</span> Lake in the South Island of New Zealand

Lake Te Anau is in the southwestern corner of the South Island of New Zealand. The lake covers an area of 344 km2 (133 sq mi), making it the second-largest lake by surface area in New Zealand and the largest in the South Island. It is the second largest lake in Australasia by fresh water volume. The main body of the lake runs north-south, and is 65 km in length. Three large fiords form arms to the lake on its western flank: North Fiord, Middle Fiord and South Fiord. These are the only inland fiords that New Zealand has, the other 14 are out on the coast. Several small islands lie in the entrance to Middle Fiord, which forks partway along its length into northwest and southwest arms. The surface of the lake is at an altitude of 210 m. It has a maximum depth of 425 m, so much of its bed lies below sea level, with the deepest part of the lake being 215 metres below sea level.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Te Anau</span> Town in Southland, New Zealand

Te Anau is a town in the Southland region of the South Island of New Zealand. In Māori, Te-Anau means the Place of the Swirling Waters. It is on the eastern shore of Lake Te Anau in Fiordland. Te Anau is 155 kilometres north of Invercargill and 171 kilometres to the southwest of Queenstown. Manapouri lies 21 kilometres to the south. Te Anau lies at the southern end of the Milford Road, 117 kilometres to the south of Milford Sound.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Southland District</span> Territorial authority district in Southland Region, New Zealand

Southland District is a New Zealand territorial authority district that covers most of the southern end of the South Island as well as Stewart Island.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lake Monowai</span> Lake in Southland Region, New Zealand

Lake Monowai is a large lake in the southern part of Fiordland National Park, in New Zealand's South Island, 120 kilometres northwest of Invercargill. At an altitude of 180 metres in a long curved valley, the lake appears on maps shaped like a letter "U". The western part of the lake is set in beautiful mountainous country. It is drained in the northeast by the short Monowai River, which enters the Waiau River eight kilometres to the northeast.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lake Hauroko</span> Lake in the South Island of New Zealand

Lake Hauroko is the deepest lake in New Zealand. The lake, which is 462 metres deep, is located in a mountain valley in Fiordland National Park.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Waiau River (Southland)</span> River in New Zealand

The Waiau River is the largest river in the Southland region of New Zealand. 'Waiau' translates to 'River of Swirling Currents'. It is the outflow of Lake Te Anau, flowing from it into Lake Manapouri 10 kilometres (6 mi) to the south, and from there flows south for 70 kilometres (43 mi) before reaching the Foveaux Strait 8 kilometres (5 mi) south of Tuatapere. It also takes water from Lake Monowai.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kepler Track</span> New Zealand tramping track

The Kepler Track is a 60 km (37 mi) circular hiking track which travels through the landscape of the South Island of New Zealand and is situated near the town of Te Anau. The track passes through many landscapes of the Fiordland National Park such as rocky mountain ridges, tall mossy forests, lake shores, deep gorges, rare wetlands and rivers. Like the mountains it traverses, the track is named after Johannes Kepler. The track is one of the New Zealand Great Walks and is administered by the Department of Conservation (DOC).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wilmot Pass</span>

The Wilmot Pass is a 671 m (2,201 ft) high pass on the main divide of New Zealand's South Island. It connects Doubtful Sound, a deep indentation in the coast of Fiordland, to the valley of the West Arm of Lake Manapouri. The pass is named after E. H. Wilmot, a former surveyor-general of New Zealand, who had noted it while surveying the area in 1897. It lies between Mount Wilmot and Mount Mainwaring. On the east side the Spey River drains to Lake Manapouri and on the west side the Lyvia River drains to Deep Cove.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fiordland Trails Trust</span> Environmental organisation in New Zealand

The Fiordland Trails Trust, New Zealand, was formed in March 2007, and is an Organisation, with Charitable and Donee Status. The Group was set up in response to the need for a recreational cycleway linking the Towns of Manapouri and Te Anau, much of which has high scenic and recreational values. The Trust aims to construct, Fund and Maintain regional multi use trails for the Department of Conservation In the Fiordland and Northern Southland area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Southland Region</span> Region of New Zealand

Southland is New Zealand's southernmost region. It consists mainly of the southwestern portion of the South Island and Stewart Island/Rakiura. It includes Southland District, Gore District and the city of Invercargill. Murihiku Southland is bordered by the culturally similar Otago to the north and east, and the West Coast in the extreme northwest. The region covers over 3.1 million hectares and spans 3,613 km of coast. As of June 2023, Southland has a population of 103,900, making it the eleventh-most-populous New Zealand region, and the second-most sparsely populated.

Leslie Hutchins was a New Zealand tourism operator and conservationist. Together with his wife, he bought a tourism company in 1954 that is today RealNZ; it still remains mostly in family ownership. Hutchins was one of the founding members of the Save Manapouri campaign and became one of the initial six Guardians of Lake Manapouri.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">RealNZ</span> New Zealand company

RealNZ is a New Zealand tourism company based in Queenstown. The company offers a range of travel, cruises and excursions in Queenstown, Milford Sound / Piopiotahi, Te Anau, Fiordland and Stewart Island / Rakiura. It also operates two skifields Cardrona Alpine Resort, and Treble Cone, and the International Antarctic Centre in Christchurch. The company is the successor of a series of acquisitions in the South Island tourist sector over more than 60 years. The brand RealNZ was launched in October 2021 to bring together multiple brands and businesses including Real Journeys that were previously part of the Wayfare Group, although some of the businesses have retained individual branding.

Mararoa is a rural area in New Zealand's Southland District. The area broadly corresponds to the course of the Mararoa River and the eastern part of Te Anau Basin, and includes the Mavora Lakes and the settlement of Manapouri.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Taipari Roa (Elizabeth Island) Marine Reserve</span> Marine reserve in New Zealand territorial waters

Taipari Roa Marine Reserve is a marine reserve covering an area of 613 hectares around Elizabeth Island, in the inner Doubtful Sound / Patea of Fiordland on New Zealand's South Island. It was established in 2005 and is administered by the Department of Conservation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Te Awaatu Channel (The Gut) Marine Reserve</span>

Te Awaatu Channel Marine Reserve is a marine reserve covering an area of 93 hectares in Fiordland on New Zealand's South Island. It was established in 1993 and is administered by the Department of Conservation.

References

  1. 1 2 "ArcGIS Web Application". statsnz.maps.arcgis.com. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  2. 1 2 "Subnational population estimates (RC, SA2), by age and sex, at 30 June 1996-2023 (2023 boundaries)". Statistics New Zealand . Retrieved 25 October 2023. (regional councils); "Subnational population estimates (TA, SA2), by age and sex, at 30 June 1996-2023 (2023 boundaries)". Statistics New Zealand . Retrieved 25 October 2023. (territorial authorities); "Subnational population estimates (urban rural), by age and sex, at 30 June 1996-2023 (2023 boundaries)". Statistics New Zealand . Retrieved 25 October 2023. (urban areas)
  3. ↑ "Manapouri, Southland - NZ Topo Map". NZ Topo Map. Land Information New Zealand . Retrieved 7 November 2016.
  4. ↑ Harding, Evan. "Tiwai aluminium smelter to stay open until end of 2024". Stuff . Archived from the original on 14 January 2021. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
  5. ↑ Dan Hutchinson, "Manapouri NZ's biggest water consumer", 8 December 2010, https://www.stuff.co.nz/southland-times/news/4433869/Manapouri-NZs-biggest-water-consumer
  6. ↑ NZ Herald, "Fiordland water export scheme rejected", 8 April 2002, https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/fiordland-water-export-scheme-rejected/XQINOW24PDBE7BND7LXUXE4OUQ/
  7. ↑ 2018 Census place summary: Mararoa
  8. 1 2 "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. 7029126.
  9. ↑ "Frazers Beach, Southland - NZ Topo Map". NZ Topo Map. Land Information New Zealand . Retrieved 7 November 2016.
  10. ↑ Ian Brodie, The Lord of the Rings Location Guidebook (2002, HarperCollins), 85.
  11. ↑ Director's commentary for the Two Towers (2002)
  12. ↑ Brodie, Location Guidebook, 84-85.
  13. ↑ Che Baker, "Reports Lord of the Rings' television crew in Manapouri", 21 February 2021, Stuff
  14. ↑ The Bookseller at the End of the World, Allen and Unwin Book Publishers
  15. ↑ Mike White, The bookseller at the end of the world, (2022), Stuff
  16. ↑ White, Mike (22 October 2023). "Books, dogs, and the remarkable transformation of Ruth Shaw". The Post.
  17. ↑ RNZ, Ruth Shaw - Manapouri's ′Two Wee Bookshops′(2020), RNZ
  18. ↑ Ratley, Neil (27 June 2012). "Snow adds to danger on roads". Stuff. Photo 11 of 12. Archived from the original on 28 June 2012. Retrieved 7 November 2016.
  19. ↑ "Climate Data and Activities". NIWA. 28 February 2007. Retrieved 19 October 2013.


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