Arapuni Power Station

Arapuni Dam
Arapuni power station, as seen from the Arapuni Suspension Bridge
Location of Arapuni Dam in New Zealand
Country	New Zealand
Location	Lake Arapuni, Waikato River
Coordinates	38°4′17″S 175°38′36″E / 38.07139°S 175.64333°E / -38.07139; 175.64333
Purpose	Power
Status	Operational
Opening date	1929
Dam and spillways
Impounds	Waikato River
Reservoir
Creates	Lake Arapuni
Arapuni Power Station
Operator(s)	Mercury Energy
Turbines	8× Francis turbines
Installed capacity	197 MW (264,000 hp)
Annual generation	805 GWh (2,900 TJ)

Arapuni Power Station is a hydroelectric power station on the Waikato River, in the North Island of New Zealand. It is owned and operated by Mercury Energy, and is the seventh and penultimate hydroelectric power station on the Waikato River. It is also the oldest currently generating, the first government-built, and the largest capacity single hydroelectric power station on the Waikato River. The two power houses that make up the Maraetai Power Station have a larger combined capacity however.^[1]

Arapuni, due to its proximity to Hamilton, plays an important part in voltage support and frequency keeping in the city and the wider Waikato region. Continuous improvement and refurbishment of the station's generation equipment ensures Arapuni remains efficient.^[2]

The powerhouse and dam at Arapuni are under protection of the Historic Places Trust, becoming Category I Historic Places in November 1987 and August 1991 respectively.^[3][4][5] It is one of the few generating power stations in New Zealand to be listed on the register.