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Kōrero: Waikato region

Meremere thermal power station

This film shows the Meremere thermal power station under construction in 1957. Unlike the hydro dams along the Waikato River, this power station generated electricity through steam produced using local coal as a fuel. Water from the nearby river was used for cooling. The Meremere power station operated from 1958 until 1991.

Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi

Archives New Zealand - Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga

Reference: Pictorial Parade 66. National Film Unit, 1957

Permission of Archives New Zealand Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga must be obtained before any re-use of this material.

Ngā whakaahua me ngā rauemi katoa o tēnei kōrero

Me pēnei te tohu i te whārang

Nancy Swarbrick, Waikato region – Energy and forestry, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/mi/video/27147/meremere-thermal-power-station (accessed 5 June 2026).

He kōrero nā Nancy Swarbrick, i tāngia i te 26 May 2010, updated 1 July 2015.

Comments

john
17 January 2016
my father and his 2 brothers worked at meremere power station and we all lived in the village i have awesome memories of going to mere mere school and mu father driving a morris 8 car and picking me up on his way home from work i still remember the number and street of the house we lived in and a few neighbours my father was a fitter welder
Shane Dick
15 December 2014
Hi again... Bill Manning ran sly grog evenings at Meremere during the building of the plant..Anyone know him?
Shane dick
18 January 2014
Does anyone remember Bill Manning? He was helping with the construction of the plant.. Would like any info you mite be able to give me..plse..
thomas lloyd shaw
15 December 2013
wrote a book amz kindle e about eel fishing behind the station in the swamp. It was called PUNCH a POM a DAY The water meadows beside the station were used by a number of rare birds as feeding grounds, cattle egret, ibis, and for years only a few people were there. The swamps held some enormous eels. The station village enabled many a family to get a start in life. Hats off to you all
Campbell Morris
09 September 2013
Worked in coal plant Mere-Mere power station 1968-1972 the cold winters were no fun. The Arial rope-way was always serviced over the Christmas break lousy job.Learnt to drive front end loader,Locomotive and excavator.Cheers Campbell (butch) Morris
Andrea Hepburn
28 December 2010
Remember passing the power station in my dad`s car. Great memories. Andrea Hepburn (nee Carr)
george carr
16 December 2010
Hi, Brings back great memories,worked there from 1957-59 for contractors. Babcock & Wilcox.my father was a boilermaker on the site, and I worked in the stores, which can be seen on the video. Cheers. George Carr Jnr