Okere Falls Power Station is a hydroelectric power station that came into production in May 1901, bringing electricity to

Rotorua Rotorua () is a city in the Bay of Plenty region of New Zealand's North Island. The city lies on the southern shores of Lake Rotorua, from which it takes its name. It is the seat of the Rotorua Lakes District, a territorial authority encompass ...

. At the time, Rotorua was only the fourth town in New Zealand to have electricity. The power station was the first power station built by the New Zealand government, and it remained in operation until 1936.

History

With Rotorua's expanding tourism industry in the 19th century, demand grew for having electrical lighting. In 1897, land was secured at

Okere Falls Okere Falls is a small town located 21 km from Rotorua on SH 33 between Rotorua and Tauranga on the North Island of New Zealand. The town is situated on the shore of the Okere Inlet of Lake Rotoiti, from which the Kaituna River flows north ...

for a powerhouse, followed by a tender in 1899 to build a hydro-electric power plant.Information contained on "Power for People" information panel at the viewing platform over Okere Falls. Rotorua's demand for electricity grew rapidly and by 1907 could not be met by the existing turbine anymore. In 1908, a new wing dam out from the head gates into the river was completed, bringing in enough water to run a second turbine, doubling the station's output to . Each of the 'Waverley' horizontal turbines was connected by leather belts to two generatorsInformation contained on "Hydroelectricity" information panel on path to viewing platform over Okere Falls. Today, a viewing platform overlooking the Okere Falls

waterfall A waterfall is a point in a river or stream where water flows over a vertical drop or a series of steep drops. Waterfalls also occur where meltwater drops over the edge of a tabular iceberg or ice shelf. Waterfalls can be formed in several wa ...

also takes in the remains of the original

dynamo file:DynamoElectricMachinesEndViewPartlySection USP284110.png, "Dynamo Electric Machine" (end view, partly section, ) A dynamo is an electrical generator that creates direct current using a commutator (electric), commutator. Dynamos were the f ...

house. In 1995, one of the old 100 kW turbines was retrieved from the riverbank through the same cutting that was originally used to lower it to the dynamo house.Information contained on "The Turbine" information panel next to turbine It is now on display at the start of the Okere Falls track.

References

External links

{{stack, {{Portal, New Zealand, Water, Renewable energy Buildings and structures in the Bay of Plenty Region Energy infrastructure completed in 1901 Energy infrastructure completed in 1908 Hydroelectric power stations in New Zealand Rotorua 1908 establishments in New Zealand