Ohinemuri Regional History Journal 39, September 1995
The Waihou Catchment Scheme, the biggest, most complex and most comprehensive flood protection project in New Zealand, was officially commissioned on Friday, 17 March 1995.
At the afternoon function a cairn was unveiled by Governor-General, Dame Cath Tizard. Earlier she had sailed up then down the Waihou River aboard the M.V. Scotty escorted by two waka and she was welcomed on to the new Puke Bridge jetty by local Maori women.
About 300 people gathered at the site of the cairn to hear speeches by Environment Minister Simon Upton; Environment Waikato Chairman, Murray Black; Mr Basil Morrison, Hauraki District Council Mayor; and kaumatua Tewi Nicholls, and to witness the unveiling of the cairn. The scheme was completed over three decades at a cost of $175 million.
A book, "Taming the Waihou" by Graham Watton has recently been published. It is of 88 pages and contains many photographs. The history of floods in the catchment and details of the schemearefully recorded.