Skip to main content

Story: Canterbury region

Lake Coleridge power station

Image
Lake Coleridge power station

New Zealand’s first major hydroelectric power station was opened at Lake Coleridge in 1914. It harnessed water from the Harper, Acheron and Wilberforce rivers. Electricity generated here was important for Christchurch industry.

Using this item

Te Ara – The Encyclopedia of New Zealand

Reference: Appendices to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1914, Vol. 2, D-1, p. 92

This item has been provided for private study purposes (such as school projects, family and local history research) and any published reproduction (print or electronic) may infringe copyright law. It is the responsibility of the user of any material to obtain clearance from the copyright holder.

All images & media in this story

How to cite this page

John Wilson, Canterbury region – Industry, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/10330/lake-coleridge-power-station (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by John Wilson, published 2 March 2009.