The Waitaki Dam celebrates its 75th birthday later this year and Meridian Energy Ltd is appealing for help from the community to mark the occasion.
People are being asked to share their stories about the dam and lake to compile an archive of material which can be shared with the community as part of the celebrations.
"There are former power station employees and families who have lived in the area for generations that we hope have plenty of stories about their associations with Waitaki Dam - so we're urging them to help compile an archive of material to share with the whole of the community later this year," Meridian's markets and production team general manager Mike Roan said yesterday.
That could include children of workers who lived at Waitaki while the dam was being constructed.
It is not known if anyone who worked on the dam is still alive. If they started work at 15 years old, they would be in their 90s now.
The Waitaki power station was constructed during the Depression years from the late 1920s to early 1930s using the "pick and shovel" method - the last time this method was used in New Zealand.
The power station was commissioned in January, 1935, when it began generating electricity.
It was also the birthplace of New Zealand's social welfare system, recognised earlier this year with special celebrations.
During the Depression years, a tent camp sprang up just below the dam site where men lived in the hope they would gain work on the construction site.
Meridian is working towards a celebration on the Sunday of October's Labour Weekend to mark its 75 years.
Meridian can be contacted at hydro.info@meridianenergy.co.nz.
