Three young people from Taupo had a lucky escape from the Waikato River yesterday after hydro dam gates opened and a torrent of water poured down on them.
Two of them were rescued by safety kayakers working with a crew filming the new Yogi Bear movie.
Two women, aged 19 and 20, and a man, 19, were wading through rock pools downstream from the Aratiatia Dam, about 12km northeast of Taupo, when the dam's control gates opened about 4pm, Senior Constable Barry Shepherd of Taupo police said.
The women were swept away by the rapidly rising river but the man managed to stay on a rock.
Safety kayakers, who were working with the movie crew at the rapids, rescued the women and alerted Aratiatia Power Station staff, who shut the gates.
Meanwhile, tourists at the rapids lookout called the police, who arranged a search and rescue team.
The young man walked to safety after the river level dropped.
During summer, the dam gates are opened four times a day to show visitors the rapids.
- NZPA
Movie crew to the rescue
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