A microwave, fridge, trailer and plastic bags containing kittens were among the more unusual items found when the Pukaki and Ohau hydro-electricity canals were drained.
The canals were drained last week to allow a detailed inspection of the Pukaki canal gate structure to be made, following concerns about the possible extent of erosion of its concrete construction elements after 30 years of operation.
Yesterday afternoon, Meridian Energy spokesman Alan Seay said the work was mainly completed and the canal was refilling.
It was expected Ohau A, B and C stations would come back into service early today.
It had been a "very worthwhile exercise" and Meridian had been able to carry out all the work it wanted to do within the window of Transpower's scheduled outage of the Cook Strait cable.
