The introduction of integrated river basin development to New Zealand

Abstract

Integrated river basin development can be defined as “the orderly marshalling of the resources of a river basin into multiple purposes so as to promote human welfare". This modern planning method stems from traditional basin developments in which only the water resource was considered. The term “river-basin" (United Nations terminology) refers to the entire watershed area of a river to its point of outlet.

Much of the water development in New Zealand has been for the single purpose of hydro-electric power generation. "Multiple-purpose” refers to a structure (within a project) which is designed and operated to serve two or more purposes (e.g. provision of hydro-electric power plus irrigation water.) This report endeavours to illustrate ,the usefulness - and increasingly the necessity of a comprehensive integrated planning approach towards natural resources development and in the widest context, towards man and environment. The general method of multiple-objective planning has been outlined - a method which gives planners a picture of the far- reaching implications of proposed projects.