Mangahao Power Station

Mangahao Power Station
Country	New Zealand
Location	Manawatū-Whanganui
Coordinates	40°34′36″S 175°27′1″E
Status	Operational
Commission date	November 1924
Owner(s)	Trustpower, King Country Energy
Thermal power station
Primary fuel	Hydroelectric
Power generation
Units operational	3 (1 x Francis, 2 x Pelton)
Nameplate capacity	38 MW (51,000 hp)
External links
Commons	Related media on Commons

Mangahao Power Station is a hydroelectric power station near the town of Shannon, New Zealand. After being delayed by war, access road construction and foundation testing was started by late 1919 and the station opened in November 1924. It makes use of Mangahao River, through a series of tunnels and pipelines totaling 4.8 kilometers, in the Tararua Ranges. As of 2012, it is jointly owned and operated by Todd Energy and King Country Energy.

Mangahao Hydro Electric Power Station opening (3 November 1924)

When commissioned, Mangahao Power Station was the main power station serving the lower North Island, with transmission lines connecting Mangahao with Wellington, Palmerston North, Whanganui, Masterton, Napier and Hastings. The power station was connected through to the Waikaremoana hydro scheme in 1929 and through to Arapuni Dam in 1934, forming the basis of the North Island transmission grid.

References

• Beneath the Tararua Ranges (page down)

Further reading

• Martin, John E, ed. (1991). People, Power and Power Stations: Electric Power Generation in New Zealand 1880 – 1990. Wellington: Bridget Williams Books Ltd and Electricity Corporation of New Zealand. ISBN 0-908912-16-1.
• Reilly, Helen (2008). Connecting the Country: New Zealand’s National Grid 1886 - 2007. Wellington: Steele Roberts. ISBN 978-1-877448-40-9.