Te Waihekeora Reservoir
Published: 2 October, 2025
Horticulture and job opportunities in Northland will get a major boost with the completion of Te Waihekeora Reservoir, a 3.3 million cubic metre water storage project south of Dargaville.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Regional Development Minister Shane Jones officially opened the reservoir at Te Kōpuru.
The water infrastructure will unlock more than 1000ha of land for horticulture. This could be quadrupled with the recently announced 22km Kaipara pipeline which will eventually connect the reservoir to Dargaville.
The completion of Te Waihekeora Reservoir, managed by Te Tai Tokerau Water Trust, marks a key milestone in the region’s economic journey. Together with the Kaipara pipeline, the project will deliver multiple benefits, including:
- Strengthening water security across Northland.
- Supporting horticultural development, particularly for Māori-owned enterprises such as Te Uri o Hau Avocado Orchard Development, which is already drawing water from the reservoir and initial pipeline to grow crops.
- Stimulating economic growth through increased investment and activity in the region.
- Supplying water to key local users including Silver Fern Farms, the area’s largest employer, as well as surrounding farms and industrial operations.
Since 2018, government funding of almost $126 million has been announced for water storage infrastructure in Northland. This funding is administered by Kānoa – Regional Economic Development & Investment Unit and includes $35m from the Provincial Growth Fund for Te Waihekeora Reservoir, and a loan of up to $17.5m from the Regional Infrastructure Fund to support the Kaipara pipeline.