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Story: Public transport

Wellington’s first trolleybus

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Wellington’s first trolleybus

Wellington’s first electric trolleybus, run by the Wellington City Council, stands outside the Kaiwharawhara Post Office in 1924. The first trolley line ran from Thorndon to Kaiwharawhara until 1932 when it closed. Trolleybuses were also introduced in Auckland, New Plymouth, Christchurch and Dunedin.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library, Sydney Charles Smith Collection (PA-Group-00242)

Reference: 1/2-045571; G

by Sydney Charles Smith

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Adrian Humphris, Public transport – Buses, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/22520/wellingtons-first-trolleybus (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Adrian Humphris, published 12 April 2010.