Heritage Talk: Wainuiomata - Wellington's Water Supply

But for the supply of water to Wellington city, Wainuiomata would have remained a sleepy, rural backwater, ‘out of sight, out of mind.’ That all changed in the 1880s, when Wainuiomata became the major water source.

This original scheme was a major undertaking, with much challenging engineering. There are plenty of relics of this still around if you know where to look – dams, tunnels and bridges. Subsequent developments meant that we retained that importance until 1957. Even today, this area still provides 15% of the regional water.

You are invited to a talk to be given in the Library by the Historical Society President, Gavin Wallace, during which he will show and explain what has happened over 140 years.

Photograph courtesy of Hutt City Libraries