Between the world wars the extension of electricity to farms progressed, but there were still some regions without. In the North Island, Northland, the East Cape and the Volcanic Plateau were still largely without electricity by 1930. In contrast, dairying areas such as Waikato and Taranaki were well served, as were farms in Manawatū, Rangitīkei and Wairarapa.
In the South Island, most rural areas in Otago and Canterbury had electricity, but much of the West Coast, Marlborough, and the northern part of Canterbury were still reliant on farm generation of electricity, or other forms of power, to run machinery.
Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi
Te Ara - The Encyclopedia of New Zealand
Source: Malcolm McKinnon, ed. Bateman New Zealand historical atlas: kopapatuanuku e takotonei. Auckland: David Bateman, 1997, plate 88
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