Invited guests gathered on Friday, 29th November to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Mangahao Power Scheme. The heartfelt celebration honoured the power scheme’s history and contribution to the region.
Community leaders, staff and esteemed guests were welcomed in a mihi whakatau led by Ngāti Whakatere Hapū, Muaūpoko Iwi, and tamariki from Shannon School. The children's performance added a special touch to the occasion.
The Mangahao Power Station, officially opened by Prime Minister William Massey on 3 November 1924, has been a cornerstone of New Zealand's electricity generation. Over the past 100 years, it has provided significant contributions to the national grid, supporting both generation output and voltage stability in the lower North Island.
Speaking at the event, General Manager of King Country Energy, Chris Fincham remarked, "Mangahao has had a series of owners through the years, but owners is probably the wrong word; it is more custodians. And it is the people who have worked on the scheme that have kept it going for the last 100 years.
“These people are passionate and, in some cases, obsessed with what they do and only want to see the scheme doing its best. The care they have provided has kept it going for 100 years and it is our intention to see the scheme run for a 100 more."
Also speaking at the event, Board Member of King Country Energy and General Manager Generation at Manawa Energy, Todd Mead added, "Today is a celebration, a significant milestone in the history of the Mangahao Power Station and this community as we mark its 100-year anniversary.
“This occasion is not only a tribute to the engineering marvel that has harnessed the power of water to generate electricity for generations but also a celebration of human endeavour, innovation, resilience, and community spirit."
The celebration also featured a speech from Phil Wiltshire, Chair of King Country Energy, and the unveiling of the refreshed Mangahao Information Board by Bernie Wanden, Mayor of Horowhenua District Council, highlighting the historical significance of the scheme.
The event was also attended by the King Country Trust, Suze Redmayne MP for Rangitikei, and descendants of Joseph Bernie Butler and Alfred Maxwell who tragically passed away during the construction on the scheme.
The Mangahao Hydro Electric Scheme is a marvel of engineering, featuring three storage dams, two tunnels, and a series of penstocks. It generates 120 GWh annually from its main power station, with an additional 8 GWh produced by the mini-hydro station completed in 2004 - that’s enough to power 16,000 homes! Spanning 86 square kilometres, the scheme benefits from high annual rainfall and draws its headwaters from the Mangahao River, a major tributary of the Manawatū River.
Public Station Tours
King Country Energy will open its doors to the public in an open day in March 2025. This will be an opportunity for those who are interested to come and see the inside of the power station. Please keep an eye on your local paper, King Country Energy’s website and Facebook page for more details in early 2025.
Mangahao Next Generation Scholarship Announced
King Country Energy also used the occasion to announce the Mangahao Next Generation Scholarship, a one-off program providing up to $5,000 to support young people connected to the Mangahao, Tokomaru, or Mangaore rivers in pursuing tertiary training, including university, apprenticeships, or polytechnic programmes.
"We are thrilled to support the next generation of leaders and innovators through this scholarship program," said Chris Fincham. "This initiative not only honours the legacy of the Mangahao scheme but also invests in the future of our community".
Details of the scholarship program are on the company’s website: https://www.kce.co.nz/scholarship/. King Country Energy looks forward to receiving applications from eligible candidates. Applications close on 17 January 2025.
As King Country Energy celebrates this significant milestone, the company remains committed to ensuring the Mangahao Power Station continues to serve as a beacon of innovation and sustainability for the next 100 years.