The controversial Ruataniwha Dam proposal is set to go ahead, with the board of inquiry releasing its decision to grant the 17 resource consents the projects needs to get underway.
However, there are environmental conditions that the council must adhere to, including the managing of the levels of nitrate and phosphorus in the Tukituki River.
Ngāti Kahungunu has long opposed the construction of the dam, citing a lack of consultation and transparency of information available.
However the board did find that Māori were adequately consulted. Thus in light of this decision the iwi will assess the report before deciding what their next move will be.
A special government appointed five member board of inquiry was set up to consider resource consents for the dam, of which the first hearings began in November last year.
The board examined close to 30,000 pages of evidence, and now it must make a final decision in the coming weeks.