Newest reservoirs in New Zealand
The year that a reservoir was first filled to the reservoir’s normal elevation – or the year that a natural lake was first dammed – is the determining factor in the age of the body of water. A large reservoir can take more than a year to fill after its dam is first closed. You can find many of the the world’s newest reservoirs on LakeLubbers in the comparison table below. Many of the world’s oldest reservoirs appear on the last page of that list. Note: For some lakes, the completion year data is unknown, so you may see fewer lakes than the total 31 articles we have published for New Zealand lakes.Thinking about booking a New Zealand lake vacation home rental, cabin or hotel?
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Below are lakes within New Zealand > Compared by newest (youngest) reservoirs and the year it was completed. This list does not represent all lakes in New Zealand, only the 31 New Zealand lake articles we have published on the LakeLubbers website.
Lake name  |
Completion year |
Lake description |
|---|---|---|
| Lake Maraetai, New Zealand (New Zealand, North Island, NZ, Taupo Region, North Island, NZ) |
1971 | Also known as Maraetai Reservoir Lake Maraetai in the Taupo Region of New Zealand’s North Island is a little-known vacationer’s dream. The 1013 acre reservoir just 33 miles north of L… |
| Lake Karapiro, New Zealand (New Zealand, North Island, NZ, Waikato Region, North Island, NZ) |
1947 | A 1,920-acre reservoir, Lake Karapiro is home to the New Zealand National Rowing teams. Located on the North Island of New Zealand in the Waikato Regi… |
| Lake Brunner, New Zealand (New Zealand, South Island, NZ, West Coast Region, South Island, NZ) |
1932 | Moana Kotuku is what the Maori call Lake Brunner, naming it after the beautiful and rare white herons (kotuku) sometimes seen on the lake’s shores. Th… |
| Lake Arapuni, New Zealand (New Zealand, North Island, NZ, Waikato Region, North Island, NZ) |
1929 | In Maori one of the meanings of “ara puni” is “blocked path” making Arapuni Lake an appropriate name for the man made reservoir on the North Island of… |
| Opunake Lake, New Zealand (New Zealand, North Island, NZ) |
1921 | Opunake Lake is situated off the coast of New Zealand near the town of Taranaki. Once a natural basin next to the Wajaur River, Opunake Lake was forme… |
| Lake Coleridge, New Zealand (Christchurch - Canterbury Region, South Island, NZ, New Zealand, South Island, NZ) |
1914 | Nestled snugly between two mountain ranges and surrounded by lush green farming valleys, Lake Coleridge’s clear blue waters are a breathtaking wonder… |