Lake Ngaroto

Lake Ngaroto is a peat lake in Waipa District of New Zealand.

For the statistical area, see Paterangi § Lake Ngaroto statistical area.

Lake Ngaroto
Lake Ngaroto in 2009
Lake Ngaroto in 2009, as seen from an aircraft approaching Hamilton airport, with Lake Ngarotoiti to the north (left) and Lake Serpentine (Rotopiko) to the east (top)
Location of Lake Ngaroto
Location of Lake Ngaroto
Lake Ngaroto
LocationNorth Island
Coordinates37°57′24″S 175°17′17″E
Typepeat
Basin countriesNew Zealand
Max. length1.7 km (1.1 mi)
Max. width0.8 km (0.50 mi)
Surface area108 ha (270 acres)
Average depth2 m (6 ft 7 in)
Max. depth4 m (13 ft)
Surface elevation34 m (112 ft)

Located 19 km south of Hamilton and 8 km north-west of Te Awamutu, it has a surface area of 108 ha (270 acres), making it the largest of the Waipa peat lakes.

The New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage gives a translation of "the lakes" for Ngāroto.[1]

Lake Ngaroto in 2020 from south

History
Lake Ngāroto 2016 pou, representing 7 atua (gods) and lizards

The Battle of Hingakaka was fought nearby, and the sacred carving Te Uenuku lost at this time. It was re-discovered in 1906, and now resides in the Te Awamutu Museum.[2] In 2016 a pou, representing 7 atua, was erected near the spot where Te Uenuku is thought to have been found.[3]

The Ngaroto Drainage Board was formed in 1898.[4] By 1928 hundreds of acres, formerly lake-bed, had been drained.[5]

Restoration of the lake began in 1995.[6]

Pollution

The lake is hypertrophic, leading to eutrophication. It has very high levels of nutrients, microscopic algae and suspended sediment and its water clarity is low and decreasing by around 10 cm (3.9 in) a year.[7] A health warning was issued in 2020 for cyanobacteria.[8] Cyanobacteria killed fish and birds in 2022. The lake is now monitored by a harmful algal bloom indicator, a buoy to measure pigment produced by the cyanobacteria and satellite imagery.[9]

Recreation
  • Power boats are banned from the lake, so Lake Ngaroto is popular for sailing and rowing.[10]
  • During the New Zealand Duck Shooting Season (May and June), the lake is used for duck shooting.[11]
  • Waipa District council has constructed a 6km track around the lake, part gravel and part boardwalk. It is popular with walkers and runners and recreational cyclists. There are several public toilets.
  • A Te Awamutu-Ngā Roto-Pirongia cycleway is planned, but two land purchases have delayed it.[12]

See also

Ngaroto railway station

References
  1. "1000 Māori place names". New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage. 6 August 2019.
  2. "Uenuku - Pride of Te Awamutu Museum" Archived 2011-07-20 at the Wayback Machine
  3. "Waipa District Peat Lakes Booklet" (PDF). Waikato Regional Council.
  4. "NGAROTO DRAINAGE DISTRICT. Waikato Argus". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 30 April 1898. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  5. "DRAINING SWAMPS. Waikato Times". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 9 March 1928. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  6. "Lake Ngaroto Restoration: A Case Study" (PDF). Ministry for the Environment. June 2001.
  7. "Lake Ngaroto". www.waikatoregion.govt.nz. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
  8. "Health warning issued for Lake Whangape and remains in place for Lakes' Ngaroto, Kainui, and Waikare". WaikatoDHB Newsroom. December 2020. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
  9. Vidyadharan, Avina (28 December 2022). "Early warning system for toxic algae on Waikato's Lake Ngā Roto". Stuff. Retrieved 6 July 2023.
  10. "Welcome". Ngaroto Sailing Club. Archived from the original on 7 January 2011. Retrieved 14 January 2011.
  11. "Lake Ngaroto". Te Awamutu information. Retrieved 14 January 2011.
  12. "Finance and Corporate Committee Public Agenda 21 February 2023" (PDF). Waipā District Council.


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