750 at Mighty River Power’s Arapuni Dam Open Day

22 March 2005

750 at Mighty River Power’s Arapuni Dam Open Day

Mighty River Power hosted a record 750 people at its Arapuni Dam Open Day on Saturday 19 March.

“We had a superb turnout for the Open Day on Saturday boosted by the warm, sunny weather, which encouraged people to bring a picnic and enjoy the power station tours and a walk on the swing bridge,” said General Manager External Affairs, Neil Williams.

“Our twenty staff volunteers met with both local residents and people from as far away as Hamilton, Thames, Rotorua and Matamata. There was a wide range of visitor ages from grandparents to school children – and a few former workers from as far back as the 1940s,” said Mr Williams.

Completed in 1929, the dam and powerhouse are protected under the Historic Places Act. A feature of the bush-lined gorge below the powerhouse is the historic suspended footbridge, a popular destination for tourists and sightseers.

Guided tours of the station were available as part of the Festival of the Environment 2005, a two week-long festival celebrating the connection between the environment and people of the Waikato region and neighbouring districts. The Open Day was also part of the Putaruru Water Festival.

ENDS

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