lake. Flora Lake Kaniere Scenic Reserve is largely composed of mature rimu, and is considered one of the most ecologically-significant areas of lowland forest in the central West Coast. The rimu forest composition varies: on the flat outwash terraces, it contains rātā (Metrosideros) and kaikawaka (Libocedrus bidwillii), while on the slopes there is more supplejack (Ripogonum scandens), kiekie (Freycinetia banksii), and miro (Prumnopitys ferruginea). In the swampier areas there are other tree species including manoao (Manoao colensoi), kaikawaka, and kahikatea (Dacrycarpus dacrydioides). Human history In pre-European times, Lake Kaniere was an important mahinga kai (food gathering place) for Māori, with longfin eels and weka being two of the most important food resources in and around the lake. In 1909 a small hydroelectric station was built on the Kaniere River, at a cost of £15,000, to power the pumping equipment at the Ross gold mine. Water is taken near the weir at the northern end of the lake and travels 9 km through a series of tunnels and flumes to a twin power plant capable of generating 520 kW; the water race was originally used for gold sluicing in the Kaniere area. The most prominent of the wooden flumes, Johnson's Flume, collapsed in 1973 and was replaced by earthworks. The Kaniere Forks power station later supplied the gold dredge at Rimu, and after 1931 exclusively generated power for Hokitika, today supplying 3.75 GWh annually to the town. A 3½ hour walkway follows the water race, part of the West Coast Wilderness Trail. Lake Kaniere is a popular location for leisure activities such as camping, picknicking, jetboating, jetskiing, and water skiing. It is occasionally used by naturists for nude swimming; New Zealand has no official nude beaches, as public nudity is legal on any beach where it is "known to occur". It is also the main water supply for Hokitika. References External links Lake Kaniere Scenic Reserve information at Department of Conservation Westland District Lakes of the West Coast, New Zealand Nude beaches Naturism in New Zealand