Published by ECNZ and Historical Branch, Department of Internal Affairs. Distrubuted by Bridget Williams Books. 
ISBN: 0908912986. RRP: $49.95

Electricity has helped to shape the twentieth century - and the history of government construction of the country's power stations tells us much about our own past.

People, Politics and Power Stations tells the story of electric power generation in New Zealand, from the early days at Reefton, through to the massive developments of the Waikato, Waitaki and Clutha Rivers, and the establishment of geothermal and thermal stations. Fully illustrated, the book traces the impact of technological innovation in New Zealand. It pays tribute also to this country's professional engineers and construction workers. 

This new edition documents the end of a significant phase in government electricity generation - one in which the country's largest state-owned enterprise, ECNZ, has played a major role. Additional chapters document the changes leading to the transformation of the electricity idustry and the break-up of ECNZ. This last wave of industry reforms will flow on to the next century, bringing new challenges to New Zealand's electricity sector. 

John E. Martin wrote People, Politics and Power Stations at the Historical Branch, Department of Internal Affairs. He is now a senior lecturer in history at Victoria University in Wellington.