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Story: Local and regional government

'Powerhouse, Tuai', 1948

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'Powerhouse, Tuai', 1948

The Bay of Plenty Electric Power Board was formed in 1925 to supply electricity to the district. From 1929 it bought electricity at wholesale rates from the Lake Waikaremoana hydroelectricity scheme. The impressive powerhouse at Tuai, opened in 1929 to house the scheme's first generators, is shown here in a 1948 painting by Doris Lusk.

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Christchurch Art Gallery - Te Puna o Waiwhetu

Reference: 95/65

by Doris Lusk

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How to cite this page

Mark Derby, Local and regional government – Managing urbanisation, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/artwork/35391/powerhouse-tuai-1948 (accessed 21 June 2026).

Story by Mark Derby, published 8 June 2012, updated 1 February 2015.