Okere Falls Power Station facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Okere Falls Power Station |
|
|---|---|
.jpg)
Power station in 1908
|
|
 Location of Okere Falls Power Station in New Zealand
|
|
| Country | New Zealand |
| Coordinates | 38°0.86′S 176°20.73′E / 38.01433°S 176.34550°E |
| Dam and spillways | |
| Impounds | Kaituna River |
| Power station | |
| Commission date | 1901 |
| Decommission date | 1939 |
| Installed capacity | 200kW |
The Okere Falls Power Station was a special place in New Zealand's history! It was a hydroelectric power station that started making electricity in May 1901. This brought electric lights and power to the town of Rotorua. At that time, Rotorua was only the fourth town in New Zealand to get electricity. This power station was also the very first one built by the New Zealand government. It kept working until 1936, providing power for many years.
Contents
How Rotorua Got Electricity
In the late 1800s, Rotorua was becoming a popular place for tourists. More and more people wanted electric lighting for their homes and businesses. To meet this growing need, the government decided to build a power station.
Building the Power Station
In 1897, the government found the perfect spot for the power station at Okere Falls. Two years later, in 1899, they asked companies to bid on building the new hydroelectric plant. This plant would use the power of the falling water to create electricity.
Expanding the Power Supply
Rotorua's demand for electricity grew very quickly. By 1907, the power station's first turbine could not make enough electricity anymore. A turbine is like a big water wheel that spins when water flows through it, helping to create power.
To make more electricity, a new part called a "wing dam" was finished in 1908. This dam helped direct more water from the river to the power station. With more water, a second turbine could be added. This doubled the station's power output to 200 kilowatts (kW). Each of these "Waverley" turbines was connected by strong leather belts to two 50 kW generators. A generator is the machine that actually turns the spinning motion into electricity.
The End of an Era
The Okere Falls Power Station continued to provide electricity to Rotorua for many years. However, it eventually stopped operating in 1936. Larger, more modern power stations were built to meet New Zealand's growing energy needs.
Okere Falls Today
Today, you can visit a special viewing platform at Okere Falls. From there, you can see the beautiful waterfall and also the remains of the original dynamo house. A dynamo house is where the generators were kept.
In 1995, one of the old 100 kW turbines was found and brought out of the riverbank. It was pulled out through the same path that was used to lower it into the dynamo house many years ago. This historic turbine is now on display at the start of the Okere Falls track, reminding visitors of this important piece of New Zealand's electrical history.
