The Environment BOP pilot project to harvest green algae at Lake Rotoiti and then use it to create useful products has begun.
The harvested algae can be used to make bio-fuels, fertiliser, animal and fish feed and valuable chemicals and products.

Environment BOP Councillors Tai Eru (left) and Neil Oppatt (right) show NZ Trade and Enterprise's Barbara Webster the algae harvest with land owner Fred Whata.

It can be used to manufacture activated carbon used in filtration and absorption products. The carbon filtering made from algae can even be used to remove unpleasant flavours from drinking water.
Environment BOP Chairman John Cronin says the project's technology has the potential to benefit waterways in the region, while at the same time improve water quality.