The Karapiro Power Station is a hydroelectric power station on Waikato River, in the North Island of New Zealand. The power station lies on Lake Karapiro, 30 kilometres (19 mi) upstream from the city of Hamilton. Karapiro is the last of the eight hydroelectric power stations on the Waikato River.Karapiro is a baseload power station, as it is required to maintain water flow in the lower Waikato River even during low inflows to the catchment and during low electricity demand.