Electricity comes to Pukerua Bay

in 1927 the Hutt Valley Electric Power Board (HVEPB) installed power lines from Plimmerton to Pukerua Bay on condition that the three local landowners, Mulhern, Wall and Gray contributed to the cost. Until this time the only home with electric power was that of Charles Gray who had his own generator. (Personal communication: Bert D’Ath, 2005)

The Mangahao Power Station, east of Shannon in the Tararua Range, was the first of many large hydro power stations to be built in New Zealand under a government-resourced plan to provide a national supply of electricity. The survey work started in 1915. The engineering work to divert the east flowing Mangahao River with dams, reservoirs, and a tunnel, an open surge chamber, steel penstocks and a tailrace was extensive. The station was opened in November 1924. The 110KV lines to Wellington were the first lines at this high voltage in the Southern Hemisphere. Very soon it was obvious the Mangahao would not be able to cope with supply on its own, so work started on the Waikato River’s Arapuni Power Station and on Tuai Station at Waikaremoana. These two power stations came into operation in 1929.

Advertisement for Moffat electric ranges. Evening Post 17 August 1929 p13

When the Mt Welcome Homestead (now Kerehoma) was built between 1924 and 1925 Reginald Wall had galvanized piping preset into the concrete walls ready to take the wiring for the lighting and electric stove. The three farmers were obliged to install identical Moffat ranges. However, for the Walls the Shacklock coal range was kept in the kitchen for warmth and hot water.

Installing the poles and wires from Karehana Bay through to Pukerua Bay took three months. In those days there was only a track into Pukerua Bay. It was an ordeal getting trucks in over the slippery surface of mud and slush. “When we put the power down to the beach front at Pukerua Bay we had to have long ropes and drop the poles over the brow of the hill on to the beach road because we couldn’t get the trucks down on to the road,” said Mr Clark. “Chains were put round the poles and they were dragged into position by two horses.” (Monigatti, Rex. (1972). Energy on the Move: a short history of the Hutt Valley Electric Power and Gas Board (1922-72) )

Turning on the electric current was celebrated on Saturday, 1 October 1927 with an afternoon party and a dance in the evening. On 3 October the Dominion reported:

Electric Power, Ceremony at Pukerua Bay

Proposed Road Access to Plimmerton

Pukerua Bay was en fete last Saturday afternoon, the occasion being the official turning on of the electric current recently introduced to the district. The function was attended by a number of people from the city and the Hutt Valley, including Mr. W. H. Field, M.P., and Mrs. Field, Mr. Mildenhall (councillor for the riding) and Mrs. Mildenhall, Mr. S. Blackley (chairman of the Hutt County Council), Mr. A. J. McCurdy (ex-chairman of the Hutt Valley Electric Power Board) Mr. A. H. Benham (Hutt County engineer) and Mrs. Benham. The visitors from town were met by Mr. and Mrs. C. Gray, who have done so much for the progress of Pukerua, and entertained at their residence.

The ceremony itself took place at the Pukerua Hall, where a large number of local residents had gathered. During afternoon tea, which was served in the open, Mr. A. Basire, president of the Pukerua Pay Ratepayers’ Association, welcomed the visitors on behalf of the residents, and remarked that the introduction of electric power into the district marked a further stage in its rapid development. Mr. Basire then proposed a toast to the Hutt Valley Electric Power Board, coupling with it the name of Mr. A. J. McCurdy.

The speaker dwelt on the marvellous growth of Pukerua Bay during the past two years. He further stated that the greatest praise must be given to Mr. Field for his services to the district, and he hoped that his crowning act of service would be to obtain good access from Pukerua to Plimmerton. The good work of Messrs. Blackley, McCurdy, and Mildenhall was also referred to. Mr. McCurdy said he was sure that the residents would get all the advantages of the city now that they had electric light and power in their own homes.

Speaking on the question of road access, Mr. Blackley said that he realised that Pukerua had not been treated too well in the past. In his opinion it must be placed on the map. So far as the Hutt County Council was concerned everything had been done to get a road to Plimmerton, and that had recently been agreed to, the Public Works Department having decided to make a start almost immediately. (Loud applause.) On the Power Board, concluded Mr. Blackley, Pukerua was well championed by Mr. McCurdy.

The next speaker was Mr. W. H. Field, who outlined the history and development of the Bay, and spoke in the highest terms of Mr. Gray, through whose efforts the township had gone ahead in leaps and bounds. Pukerua, he said, had had two important events – the opening of the school and the switching on of the electric power. The third one, the opening of the new road, would, he hoped, be an event not very far distant. (Dominion, 3 October 1927, p12)

Electricity Networks Aotearoa (ENA) httpswww.ena.org.nzaboutour-history-a-brief-overview

Most houses were connected to electricity and the HVEPB authorised the erection of thirteen street lamps. Within days holiday baches were being advertised as “three rooms, electric light and hot point; furnished”.

In the 1930s the Hydro-electric Branch of the Public Works Department promoted the use of electricity with advertisements such as, “HYDRO ELECTRICITY is available – it is yours – USE IT!”

Stormy weather made an impact on the supply of electricity. On 10 May 1934 the Dominion reported:

The prevailing boisterous weather has not been without its effect on the Hutt Valley Electric Power Board, although little damage has been done, and that of a minor nature. The board’s power lines are standing up well in the strong wind, and there have been practically no breaks in the service, states the engineer and general manager, Mr. E. F. Hollands. The most serious damage caused by the storm occurred at Porirua, where a tree was blown across the lines. The power failed for about 15 minutes in the eastern area. In isolated cases the services were broken away from houses, but complaints of this nature have been very few. The power lines at Koro Koro, recently reconstructed, are carrying the strain well, and are a decided improvement on the previous system. No trouble has been experienced so far on the Petone Esplanade, which is exposed to the full force of the gale. A little trouble was caused on the exposed portion of Pukerua Bay, but this was not of a serious nature. (Dominion, 10 May 1934, p2)

A problem then and still a problem ninety years later!

Pukerua Bay may have partied when electricity was installed in the Bay but it came with many restrictions. In July 1938 a letter to the editor of the Evening Post complained that,

On some occasions the supply is so poor at times that not sufficient heat Is obtainable to cook where a hot oven is required. Overloading of the line and insufficient transformers, according to a licensed electrician are the main reasons in this particular district for the poor service we experience almost daily. (Evening Post, 14 July 1938, p8)

In response the HVEPB replied,

The supply to Plimmerton and Pukerua Bay is through two feeders to Porirua, thence by a single feeder to the outlying districts. The suggestion of overloading of line and transformers is definitely contrary to fact, and it would appear that the information given by the licensed electrician was also not considered before he made further inquiries. We know that there is a pile driver being driven by electricity at the end of the line at Pukerua Bay for Government works, but this work should be completed within the next few weeks. (Evening Post, 14 July 1938, p8)

In February 1945, the HVEPB responded to Pukerua Bay residents who were complaining of very low voltage.  Meals were delayed and electric ranges, “were unusable on Sundays”. (Evening Post, 16 February 1945, p8) The general manager acknowledged that the lines were overloaded, but this was largely caused by the temporary residents bringing in equipment for which permits had not been obtained. The Board said an inspection would be made, and it was possible persons using unauthorised appliances would be prosecuted. Three years later the Progressive Association asked the power board to improve the voltage of the supply lines in the district. The Annual Report of the Association for 1950-51 stated, “After representations from the Association the Hutt Valley Electric Power Board installed a Transformer in Beach Road which made a considerable difference in the power supply.”

From 1945 there were periods of critical shortages of generation from the North Island stations at Mangahao, Waikaremoana and Arapuni on the Waikato River.

Due to shortage of coal for the Government Steam Generating Station in Auckland, it was necessary to cut off the supply of electricity to consumers in the Board’s area with well-advertised outages of 30 minutes between 10am and 6pm in different areas of the HVEPB district.

Shortage of Electricity Hutt News 12 March 1947 p9

Over the next four years, especially during the winter months, there were regular appeals to reduce consumption of electricity by 17% and up to 24 %.  If this target was not met it would be necessary to cut the supply to consumers. In March 1947 the HVEPB published a notice in the Hutt News saying: “The necessity for saving electricity has become of great importance and consumers are once more urged to do their personal utmost to assist by reducing their consumption of electricity during this emergency. Factories and primary industries must be kept going, so you are asked to use electricity only if it is absolutely necessary and to remember that your greatest saving can be from a reduction in your electric water heating demands.” (Hutt News, 12 March 1947, p9)

Between 1943 and 1947 two further power stations were commissioned at Waikaremoana. From 1947 through to 1964 seven power stations were built on the Waikato River.  The Tongariro Power Scheme was completed in 1983 which further increased the supply of electric power.

In 1948 the Chairman of the HVEPB praised consumers for economising, but “due to the low levels of Lake Waikaremoana, which is some 12 feet below the overflow level, and Lake Taupo, which is over 2 feet down, the Electricity Controller has found it necessary to ask for further reductions in the load.”  (Hutt News, 13 October 1948, p7) The Board made suggestions on how consumers could meet the request.

Water Heating: All consumers having electric water heating systems to reduce these hours from 12 hours per day to 10 hours per day.

Electric Radiators: It is, realised that these are so handy and convenient for the housewife, and also the cost of running them is so low, that there is a temptation to switch these on when alternative means of heating, such as lighting the fire, might well be used.

Lighting and other household use: The necessity for switching off lights when rooms are unoccupied, and not leaving the radio talking to empty air, and for switching off hot plates, stoves, etc., as much as possible when cooking are, of course, fairly obvious means of economising which should not be neglected. (Hutt News, 13 October 1948, p7)

In the May 1949 Topics section of the Pukerua News the editor wrote, “The unit allowance by the Hutt Valley Power Board, has been particularly harsh on some householders in Pukerua Bay. One household, whose usual consumption was about 350 units every two months, have now been allowed the munificent amount of 146 units in this period. A tough winter for some.”

The problems with the supply of electricity continued into the next winter.  The Minutes of Pukerua Bay Progressive Association for 10 June 1950 recorded:

The subject of the very low power during peak periods was then discussed. A very interesting schedule was presented to the meeting, which consisted of readings of the electric power voltage taken by a resident at different times during the day and night over the past month or two. This revealed that never at anytime did the power reach its normal strength, and was frequently at a ridiculously low figure. It was resolved on the motion of Mr. Bertinshaw, seconded by Mr. Waddilove, that we write to the Hutt Valley Electric Power Board regarding this matter, sending a copy of the schedule and asking for some improvement in the electric supply.

The high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission link, commonly known as the Cook Strait Cable, became operational in April 1965 to take electricity from the generation-rich South Island to the more populous North Island.

Street lighting has always been a concern in Pukerua Bay. Regular pleas for more lights and to have them correctly placed appear in the minutes of the Progressive Association. The Pukerua News, June 1948 reported on the street light on the station side of the cutting. “The existing light near the main road is erected too high up and is of little assistance in lighting the way on a dark night.” In 1956 Miss Ngita Woodhouse, Honorary Secretary, Pukerua Bay Progressive Association was instructed to write to the Country Clerk of Hutt County Council to ask if the street lights in Pukerua Bay could be switched on at dusk. She noted that “the lights go on much later, which causes considerable inconvenience and adds to the possibility of accidents.”

At the Association’s meeting on 16 September 1957 the secretary was asked to write to the HVEPB:

Two reports of vandalism were made to the meeting, the first in connection with broken electric bulbs at Takutai Road. The second instance being caused by boys throwing stones at cars in the cutting north of Lindsays Store. As a certain amount of trouble had been caused to residents by the lights being off in Takutai Road, the secretary was requested to write to the Hunt Valley Electric Power Board and ask that wire guards be placed over the lamps in Takutai Road. Regarding the stone throwing inquiries were to be made by the chairman with regard to having a policeman visit the school to speak to the children on this matter.

In 2024 all street lighting in Pukerua Bay was converted to LED which provides better lighting with less light pollution.

References


Archives NZ
Pukerua News 1947 to 1950
Pataka Art+Museum
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/
Monigatti, Rex 1972. Energy on the Move. p8
https://www.engineeringnz.org/programmes/heritage/heritage-records/mangahao-power-station/