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Story: Sewage, water and waste

Building the Wainuiomata reservoir

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Building the Wainuiomata reservoir

The headwaters of the Orongorongo and Wainuiomata rivers are a vital part of Wellington’s water supply. In the late 19th century a dam to supply Wellington was built on the upper Wainuiomata. By 1918 this was inadequate. To increase the supply, the headwaters of the Orongorongo were tunnelled to the Wainuiomata dam.

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Wellington City Archives

Reference: 00148:0:40

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How to cite this page

Christine Dann, Sewage, water and waste – Water supply, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/24438/building-the-wainuiomata-reservoir (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Christine Dann, published 12 April 2010.