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Who is behind the Hurunui Water Project?

The Hurunui Water Project has been nearly a decade in the making, arising from various groups interested in the sustainable use of water for irrigation and hydro generation. The common ingredient is an interest in the future well-being of Hurunui District. The current shareholders of HWP are the Hurunui Irrigation and Power Trust (HIPT), the owner of Eskhead Station and MainPower. The chair of the HWP Board is Hawarden farmer Mike Hodgen. The Hurunui Community Water Development Project was renamed the Hurunui Water Project in mid 2008.

HIPT represents the interests of more than 200 Hurunui farmers who formed a trust in 2002 to look at the opportunities for using water in the district.

Eskhead Station is the location of one of the water storage sites the Hurunui Water Project is proposing. The owner of Eskhead Station, David Teece, supports the project and has provided development assistance.

MainPower has an interest in the regional development of the Hurunui District and in hydro-generation possibilities.

Ngai Tahu Property is also represented on the HWP Board. Ngai Tahu Property has developing aspirations in the rural sector and owns 83,600 hectares of rural land within the South Island, of which currently 90% is leased to forestry companies. Over the long term, Ngai Tahu intends to develop over 35,000 hectares of this portfolio to agricultural and other higher and better uses.

AL Resources is the project management company implementing the Hurunui Water Project. The CEO and lead consultant is Amanda Loeffen.