Monowai Power Station Turns 100: A Century of Powering Southland
By Mike Goodwin
On May 1st, 2025, Monowai Power Station proudly celebrated its 100-year anniversary. I had the honour of attending the centennial event, joining past workers, engineers, families, and locals to mark a milestone in New Zealand’s energy history.
Tucked away on the banks of the Waiau River, Monowai is New Zealand’s oldest operational hydro-electric power station. Officially opened on 1 May 1925, the station was the result of more than two decades of planning, lobbying, and engineering. Local leaders, including the Southland Progress League and the newly formed Southland Electric Power Board, pushed hard to bring renewable electricity to the region. Their vision and determination laid the foundation for one of Southland’s greatest infrastructure achievements.
Materials for the project were shipped from London, including transformers, turbines, and over 1,000 tonnes of cement. Roads and bridges—like the Sunnyside Bridge near Tuatapere—were built to bring materials and workers to the remote site. By 1925, Monowai was generating 3.6 megawatts of electricity, powering thousands of homes and businesses across Western Southland.
The station was so successful that it helped secure Southland’s position as a leader in renewable energy. Over the decades, Monowai supported the grid through challenges like the 1939 integration into the National Grid, power shortages in the 1940s, and flooding events in the 1990s. Major upgrades in the 2000s ensured it continues to operate today.
The centennial event hosted by Pioneer Energy was a chance to reflect on the hard work of those who built and operated the station. Storyboards and historical displays—including engineering plans, archival photos, and timelines—were set up on-site for visitors to explore. I was privileged to photograph the occasion and capture the sense of pride shared by everyone there.
If you’d like to learn more about Monowai’s history or explore other local archives, visit the Central & Western Murihiku Southland Archive, located at 48 Main Road, Tuatapere.
They hold a growing collection of historical photos, articles, records, maps, and community material from across the region. You can also bring your own historical items—photos, VHS tapes, or documents—for scanning and digital preservation. This service is free if you donate a copy to their public collection. Personal copies can be made with a small donation to help support their work.
For more information or to arrange a visit, head to the Heritage Hub in Tuatapere—a treasure trove of our shared local history.
As locals, we can be proud of the role Tuatapere and the wider community played in supporting this project. Here’s to the next 100 years of renewable energy in Southland.
