Lakes

Lakes in Taranaki are highly valued for their ecological, recreational, and cultural significance. Many serve as wildlife reserves or popular spots for activities such as fishing, boating, jet-skiing, swimming, and picnicking.

Four lakes - Lake Ōpunake, Lake Rātāpiko, Lake Mangamāhoe, and Lake Rotorangi - are artificial and primarily used for water storage to support hydroelectric generation. Lake Rotorangi is the largest of these, and water quality is monitored here four times a year.

Bacterial and cyanobacterial monitoring is carried out at Lake Rotomanu, Lake Rātāpiko, Lake Ōpunake, and Lake Rotokare each summer (from November to March) as part of the Can I Swim Here? programme.

A newer State of the Environment monitoring programme began in 2023, expanding water quality sampling to six additional lakes: Lake Rotokare, Barrett Lagoon, Lake Kaikura, Lake Herengawe, Lake Waikare, and Lake Rotokawau.