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Lake Hood

Want to know more about Lake Hood water? Keep an eye on LAWA and ECan’s monitoring page

Spanning over 80 hectares, Lake Hood is a made-made recreational lake which offers user an aquatic playground within a 10 minute drive from Ashburton (Hakatere). The Lake, surrounded by picnic areas and walking trails, allows users the opportunity to swim, kayak and sail. The Lake has a separate designated rowing course and water and jet skiing areas.

Information on lake events and lake closures can be found here: Lake Hood activities and events

There is also staged residential development around the Lake, including sections adjacent to the Lake and larger lifestyle blocks in close walking distance to the Lake. Sections located on the canals also provide residents the opportunity to have a jetty to moor boats and kayaks.

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Lake Hood News

Boat ramp at a lake

Lake Hood water update: Lake bed survey planned 8-9 October

Scientists will be undertaking survey work at Lake Hood next week using LiDAR technology from a drone and gathering bathymetric (underwater terrain) data from a boat.

Seat at edge of a lake

Lake Hood water update: Monitoring buoy to be deployed

A monitoring buoy is about to be deployed in Lake Hood next week and several rounds of trials of products to mitigate cyanobacteria blooms are planned in the lake this summer.

canal with automatic ferry

Lake Hood water quality update: 15 August 2025

Council officers are continuing to meet with scientists to understand what drives algal blooms at Lake Hood, as they plan for the coming summer.

Signage and native plantings

Health warning lifted for algal bloom in Lake Hood

Health New Zealand/Te Whatu Ora has lifted its algal bloom health warning issued for Lake Hood on 20/03/2025.

Aerial view of road to Lake Hood

Lake access to open, health warning remains

Full vehicle access to the road around Lake Hood will be restored today although a public health warning on the lake remains. People are still urged to adhere to the public health warning and avoid contact recreation with the lake.

Signage and native plantings

Water testing continues at Lake Hood

The latest cyanobacteria reading at Lake Hood has unfortunately delayed Council consideration about re-opening the lake to the public for water sports.

Lake edge

Councillors to receive Lake Hood water report

A 75-page report will be presented to Councillors on Wednesday, providing an information update on water quality issues at Lake Hood and the work currently underway to address them.

Houses by canal in lake

Lake Hood closed until further notice due to algal bloom

Council has decided to close Lake Hood to the public until further notice due to an algal bloom and the risk to health posed by cyanobacteria toxins.

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