The Fleming's 'Save Manapouri' Christmas card

The Fleming's 'Save Manapouri' Christmas card

The campaign to 'Save Manapouri' started with a small meeting of dedicated Southlanders. But opposition to the Government's plan to artificially raise the level of the lake to increase the Manapouri hydropower station's output quickly spread around the country. Manapouri became a high profile issue, especially in the build-up to the 1974 election.

Scientist and conservationist Sir Charles Fleming was an influential voice of the 'Save Manapouri' campaign. He later sat on the government’s Environmental Council. Whether working for the campaign or the government, Fleming pushed a strong conservationist message. At one point he called the Ministry of Works "the judge, jury and executioner" of Manapouri.

Fleming never missed an opportunity to press home the conservation message. In 1970, Charles and Peg Fleming sent out this Christmas card urging friends to join the fight to 'Save Manapouri'.

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