The Kaupokonui Cooperative Dairy Factory Complex (Former) consists of a factory, affiliated auxiliary buildings, and hydro-power scheme positioned either side of SH45, and has a close association with, and proximity to, the Kaūpokonui River. The dairy complex was constructed in increments between 1897 and the 1960s and is a rare, remarkably complete example of this important aspect of Taranaki’s industrial heritage. There is archaeological evidence of Māori occupation at the mouth of the Kaūpokonui River dating back to the 14th century. The Kaūpokonui River is also said to be the home of a munificent taniwha who made sure that there was a plentiful supply of fish in the river for the settlements along it, including opposite the dairy factory complex site. The river has great cultural and spiritual importance to Ngāti Tū, as does the taonga fish species therein. Immigration and regional migration continued and by the early 19th century there were several iwi present in Taranaki with Ngā Ruahine and Ngāti Ruanui occupying southern Taranaki. During this period inter-tribal competition meant that life was far from peaceful, which was compounded by the ever present threat of invasion from the Waikato. When European incursion into the area began in a small way with whalers and traders from the late 1820s, yet another prospective source of conflict was thrown into the mix. This became a certainty with the forming of the Plymouth Company in early 1840. Although, the first few years of settlement at New Plymouth appear to have been relatively harmonious, by the end of the 1840s settlers were looking to extend their influence and the seeds of conflict between iwi and the Crown were well and truly sown. The hostilities between some iwi and the Crown around the mid 19th century, and the resultant blanket land confiscations from the 1860s, have been a significant feature of the race relations and politics of the province for over 150 years. Conflict spread to south Taranaki as a result of Ngāti Ruanui’s active support of Te Āti Awa and Ngā Rauru in their mutual struggle against land sales in their respective rohe. This support was viewed by the government as an act of rebellion, and in late 1865 Major General Chute launched a campaign in south Taranaki characterised by a lack of discrimination between hapū who were ‘rebels’ and those who were not. During the temporary cessation of hostilities which resulted, there were blanket confiscations of land under the New Zealand Settlers Act of 1863, and prospective settlers were promised substantial land grants to try and entice them to the area, with only mild success. Eventually, over 350,000 acres of Ngā Ruahine and Ngāti Ruanui land was confiscated with no, or substantially inadequate, compensation. From the early 1880s the government made another concerted effort to encourage settlement in south Taranaki, selling confiscated land relatively cheaply and investing in road and rail infrastructure. These measures were seen as a means of establishing a definite hold on the region. This policy was successful for the government to the point that railways around the region were established by 1885 and then extended to include a rail link between Pātea and Hāwera. As planned aided settlement and, once the bush had been cleared, dairying began mostly on a modest domestic scale. The centrality of the dairy industry to the economy of Taranaki from the late 19th century is physically evident when travelling around the region because of the plethora of, now mainly disused, factory buildings in close proximity to main transport routes. Taranaki was ideally suited to agricultural industries because its moderate and wet climate promoted feed growth for grazing animals, such as cattle, consistently over much of the year. Despite the suitability of the area Taranaki was a latecomer to dairying, which meant that by the late 1880s the Crown company and Chew Chong’s Jubilee factories were the only two major concerns in the district. However, from this point on dairying began to take hold and by 1894 Taranaki had the biggest concentration of dairy factories of any province in New Zealand. It took this title forward into the 20th century surpassing other areas with considerable dairying interests, such as the Waikato and Southland. This rapid growth of the dairy industry facilitated a dramatic turnaround in the economic outlook of farmers. Whereas up until the close of the 19th century their lot had been characterised by impoverishment, they now began to enjoy steady incomes and an associated increased standard of living. As a consequence of the growth of the dairy industry, and the spin-off industries it created, the population in Taranaki rose exponentially. When the Kaupokonui Cooperative Dairy Co. Ltd. was established in 1897 it was with an air of considerable expectation locally. The foundation board of directors were James Jamieson Campbell (chairman), F.C. Candy, D. Clark, W. Coxhead, James Glenn and John Ryan, with the secretary being E.C. Barleyman, and the first factory manager was a F.W. Falconer. The idea of a cooperative venture had been discussed for several years and the proposed site for the factory on a section of Messrs Glenn’s land near Manaia was perfectly suited, being land with reasonable road access, an adequate water supply close at hand from the Kaūpokonui River, as well as being central to a growing number of dairy farms. In addition to catering for established farms, the presence of the factory at Kaūpokonui stimulated population growth. For example, settlement in Kaūpokonui in 1896-97 was negligible but by 1901 36 landowners were recorded in the area. These were primarily farmers, but also included factory workers, a bootmaker, and postmaster. The development of Taranaki’s dairy industry coincided with a national move towards cooperative dairy companies, and by the close of the 20th century’s first decade it was estimated that, when travelling in south Taranaki, every five miles would bring you into a different cooperative’s sphere of influence. Cooperative ventures are a characteristic feature of New Zealand’s dairy industry. By 1900 over 40 percent of dairy factories were cooperatives, over the next two decades this number doubled, and by 1944 cooperatives made up 94 percent of the country’s dairy industry. A cooperative dairy company was defined as a company whose primary activity was the production of butter, cheese, and other dairy products, from milk and cream supplied by its farmer shareholders. The profit from the sale of these goods was then divided among the supplier shareholders, after processing and other expenses were subtracted, based on the amount of butterfat in the raw material each had provided in proportion to the company’s other suppliers. The initial timber factory at Kaūpokonui was completed in 1898 and was a structure typical of contemporary dairy factories. The company made sure the factory, which became the central factory, could accommodate production to an extent worthy of that title. At Kaūpokonui the factory was described as ‘large, roomy, and strongly constructed, and the plant is up-to-date and complete.’ The factory featured cheese and butter-making machinery, giving the company the option of producing both or a majority of one product depending on the market value. It could therefore obtain the best possible return for its contributing farmers. By 1910 the original modestly sized timber factory had been extended, and a general store was built close by. All this contributed to the Kaūpokonui factory being touted as ‘one of the most complete in the colony.’ It is evident from the outset that the company aimed at becoming a major force in Taranaki’s and New Zealand’s dairy industry. Within ten years of its establishment an ambitious programme of purchasing and building meant that the company had numerous branch factories, securing its ascendancy in the district. These included the purchase of three former Crown Company factories between 1898 and 1901, the building of the Takatau Road creamery in 1898, and the construction of the Oeo Branch in 1901. In 1907 the company’s Kapuni factory was constructed, completing its eventual complement of eight branch factories. It was said that ‘throughout South Taranaki dairy factories and creameries present the most familiar of architectural effects,’ and the Kaūpokonui company was a significant contributor to this. Another of the company’s activities which demonstrated its commitment to succeed was the early development of hydro-mechanical and hydro-power scheme associated with the Kaūpokonui factory. As well as having a climate perfectly suited to dairy farming, the proliferation of rivers and streams in Taranaki offered ample opportunity for the development of another characteristic regional industrial aspect; hydro-power generation. Just as there is plenty of physical evidence of the proliferation and importance of dairying in Taranaki, there are approximately 100 dam and weir installations remaining in the waterways, which validates the description of Taranaki as ‘the most electrically-minded province during the early years of power development in New Zealand.’ The dairy industry has traditionally been eager to adopt and develop new technologies and this was a major contributor to its growth and success in the early to mid 20th century. It is therefore not surprising that factories were frequently upgraded and expanded, and that the industry also embraced electricity. Some factories, such as the Kaūpokonui factory, even had their own hydro-power scheme from early in their history. It was only a few years after the Kaūpokonui factory was established that it was being powered by a hydro-scheme. The source of this power was the adjacent Kaūpokonui River in which Climie and Fairhall, a local engineering and surveying firm, designed a weir and system of tunnels and channels in 1900. The weir enabled water to be diverted through a tunnel and race up to the factory, and later the powerhouse. By 1911 the energy generated by the scheme supplied the company with enough electricity to enable electric lighting in the factory and other on-site buildings, such as the powerhouse, manager’s cottage, general store, office, and stables. Hydro-electric capabilities were of particular importance to the Kaūpokonui factory and company as it gave them a distinct advantage over many of their competitors - it was only in the 1920s and 1930s that public rural electrification projects were established. While making an important contribution to the running of the factory, the weir had a negative ecological impact, because it became a barrier to the progress of piharau (an eel-like fish) and other fish along the river, trapping them at that point. By 1910 the Kaupokonui Cooperative Dairy Co. Ltd. was reputedly the most prolific dairy company in New Zealand, and possibly the world, with its product accounting for approximately one eighth of New Zealand’s total export of cheese in 1908. However, the company suffered a setback on 23 December 1910 when the Kaūpokonui factory was devastated by fire. The blaze started in the boiler room around 1am and, fanned by strong winds, it spread quickly through the factory and nearby buildings. The timber factory and general store stood little chance because of highly flammable materials inside, as well as the fact that the Manaia fire crew was not at the scene until approximately 1:30am. Nineteen men were housed in the factory and adjacent living quarters, but no one was injured. The accommodation block was able to be saved when the fire crew arrived, mainly because of the proximity of water from the hydro-scheme race. Unfortunately, timber dairy factories were highly vulnerable to fire. Other dairy companies, which would otherwise be considered the competition, recognised the likelihood of their business being disrupted or ruined by fire and this motivated generosity towards the Kaūpokonui company in the wake of the blaze. Because it was a large enterprise the company was able to share out some of the workload to its branch factories. However, in the immediate aftermath the Joll and Riverdale companies also offered to take in Kaūpokonui suppliers’ milk. The factory and store were insured which reduced the financial impact of the fire, although it was still a setback. However, the company seems to have taken it on the chin and within a few weeks a temporary factory had been set up in their newly constructed stables across the road from the factory site. Because the risk of fire was heightened with timber buildings Kaūpokonui, and other factories affected by fire from this period onwards, was rebuilt using reinforced concrete. After the fire, the building was re-orientated so that the delivery bays were on the eastern side. The General Store was also rebuilt, but in a different location, across the road from the factory building. This building was significantly larger than its predecessor and was constructed in concrete too. The original store was reputedly the first dairy factory store in the Waimate district, and the new store took over this mantle on completion. The Kaūpokonui company continued to be a major force in the New Zealand dairy industry ranking among the top five largest companies in terms of the number of factories it operated. When ruminating on the local importance of the factory in 1940, C. J. Roberts regretted that despite seeing it grow into a success, ‘none of the original settlers saw it reach its present magnitude, keeping hundreds of persons employed at varying periods from sun-up to sun-down.’ However, in 1941 operations at the factory were again interrupted because the weir, which had been diverting the water necessary to generate its power since 1900, was severely damaged by a flood. The original, and then rebuilt, weir were run-of-river structures which, unlike a dam, meant that the natural cycle of the river’s waterflow was allowed to continue although, as previously mentioned, this did not extend to many of its inhabitants. Also, because peak dairying periods coincided with the time the river was at its lowest, it is likely that the hydro-scheme would have diverted most, if not all of the available river water at these times. The new weir was designed by Lou Butler of Inglewood, constructed entirely of concrete, and connected to the existing series of tunnels. This flood followed one a decade earlier which washed out the tunnel under the factory and saw it diverted to the external powerhouse. By 1947 the Kaūpokonui factory site covered approximately four acres including the factory building, the store, Post Office, motor truck depot, various staff dwellings, and the structures and sites associated with the electricity generation for these. Aside from the central factory complex, the company still had its eight branch factories, several stores, and dozens of connected staff dwellings as assets too. The Auroa Branch Factory was the only other site to have its own hydro-power scheme, but this was significantly smaller than the main factory’s. However, this was the beginning of a period of significant change for the Kaūpokonui company and factory, and was reflective of broader changes within the dairying industry as a whole. The Kaūpokonui factory is said to have been ‘rebuilt’ in 1952, when actually it only underwent a modification and extension project, albeit a substantial one, including the addition of new gabled sections. The creation of a large single loading bay was in step with other factories, becoming a characteristic feature of dairy factory buildings around New Zealand. The increase in size of the Kaūpokonui factory building meant the company’s complex became comparable, in the scope and form of the buildings, to other significant contemporary complexes, such as Edendale in Southland. This was the period when tanker collection was being introduced in New Zealand and it may be safely assumed this was the impetus behind this structural change to create a single loading bay. The milk tanker ‘revolutionised milk collection’ because delivery was no longer the domain of each farmer. When the onus for delivery was on the individual farmers the factory’s former series of small scale bays would have been used to accommodate several deliveries at the same time. However, tanker collection enabled the efficiency of bulk delivery and therefore only one large specifically designed bay became necessary. Tanker use also furthered the centralisation of the industry during this time period. The longer distances able to be covered by the tankers meant factory processing activities could be concentrated, which in turn lead to company mergers and the demise of most small factories and their associated support settlements. The history of the Kaūpokonui company during this period demonstrates it was no exception to this rule, with most of its branch factories being sold by 1961 and production centralised to the parent factory. For most of the Kaūpokonui company’s history it only had two major rivals within the region; the Riverdale and Joll operations. At one point the rivalry between Kaupokonui and Joll had been publicly bitter. However by the 1960s, in the face of industry-wide centralisation, these two giants of the Taranaki dairy industry resolved to amalgamate. Merger with the Joll company had first been suggested in 1932 and then at various intervals, coming to nothing until 1962 when an overwhelming majority of Kaupokonui’s shareholders voted to join the companies and form Kiwi Cooperative Dairies Limited. Mergers continued over the subsequent years and by 2000 Kiwi and their only other major competitor, New Zealand Dairy Group, accounted for 95 per cent of the country’s dairy industry. In 2001 84 percent of the farmers in these companies agreed to combine their interests and as a consequence Fonterra Cooperative Group Limited was established. After the Kaupokonui and Joll merger, Kiwi continued to use the Kaūpokonui factory for processing. The factory is said to have begun taking supplementary electricity from the South Taranaki Electric Power Board around 1961 because its private scheme could not accommodate an increased in demand. However, its scheme was not abandoned until dairy processing at the factory ceased. Despite further mergers and centralisation, the Kaūpokonui factory was operational up until 1975. The building did not stay vacant for long however, because in that same year Pacific Natural Gut String Co. Ltd. (PNGS) began manufacturing there. Until the early 21st century German owned PNGS manufactured tennis racket strings at the factory and was a significant local employer. These strings were internationally renowned and in 2002 the company was presented with the prestigious New Zealand Exporter of the Year Award. However, the company which had been touted as ‘the best tennis string manufacturer in the world,’ had significant financial woes since the mid-1990s which threatened its survival and production had ceased at the factory by 2013. The nature of the production meant that no significant structural changes to the factory were necessary. During the early period of dairy operations at the factory, the Kaūpokonui site was a social hub that facilitated interaction between the large group of people affiliated with it. This continued to a certain extent under PNGS, especially with instances in the 1990s when the large open plan space of the factory’s cheese curing section was used for indoor tennis and a local basketball tournament. When it took over the factory premises PNGS did not resurrect the dairy company’s hydro-electric scheme. Despite the lapsing of the hydro-scheme the weir was of some use as the site of the Taranaki Regional Council’s flow monitoring station. However, the fish pass which was constructed as part of the weir does not live up to its name and for some time the weir has been considered a major impediment to fish movement. In particular, it blocks numerous species of freshwater fish, including two ‘classified as nationally vulnerable, and six are classified as being “in decline”.’ Two other weirs on the Kaūpokonui River were removed for similar reasons.

The Kaupokonui Cooperative Dairy Factory Complex (Former) is situated south of Mount Taranaki, approximately three kilometres inland from the mouth of the Kaūpokonui River. The factory and general store buildings, and associated hydro-power earthworks and structures are located amongst gently rolling farmland that descends on a mild gradient towards the Kaūpokonui River. The main factory area is linked to the Glenn Road/Kaūpokonui River weir to the northeast by a narrow series of channels and tunnels. On its southern side the factory is adjacent to South Road/SH45 with the general store and associated outbuildings located opposite. This combination of typical dairy factory complex buildings and structures is the most complete remaining example in Taranaki. There are 111 remaining dairy factory buildings identified in Taranaki (2018) which, along with the Kaūpokonui complex, are mostly located in the South Taranaki District. The majority of the remaining factory sites only include a factory building or ruins, but 11 feature, or possibly feature, an identifiable set of at least three of the Kaūpokonui complex’s other key components, such as an additional powerhouse, weir/dam, general store, house/s and/or shed/s. Among these are two Category 2 historic places, the Triumph Dairy Factory (Former) (List No.930) at Ngaere and Tikorangi Dairy Factory (List No.7128). With the exception of the Kaūpokonui complex, the Manutahi, Omata, Patua and Rahotu Cooperative Dairy Factories appear to have the most remaining components. Along with their factory buildings, these sites all appear to have associated sheds and a combination of former staff houses, powerhouses and weirs/dams. However, none of these sites feature all of the characteristic dairy factory complex components identified at the Kaūpokonui site. The factory building The factory, easily identifiable as a characteristic dairy factory from the road, has been extended and renovated over time since its initial construction in 1911. The two other main periods of alteration were sometime prior to the company’s jubilee in 1947, and then again in 1952. The sum of its gabled parts, each of which sits on level concrete foundations stepping down towards the river, is that of a modestly sized factory. The main part of the building is closest to the river and contains two gabled sections constructed in 1952 and 1911 respectively, which are of a similar height, span, length, and roof pitch, and are on a north to south line parallel to the river and perpendicular to SH45. At right angles to these two main gables is a section comprised of three sub-gables, each with a central gabled clearstory skylight which would also have been a means of ventilation and were added c.1960. The northern sub-gable and, probably part of, the middle sub-gable are from the 1911 rebuilding, and the southern sub-gable was built pre 1947. All of the gabled sections of the building were erected or modified incrementally as operations at the factory called for it. The building is then completed with a multifarious collection of lean-to and small gabled additions, primarily around the north and east sides, which demonstrates a history of gradual and disparate extensions as need required, for minimum cost outlay. The 1911 factory is the core of present building. At this time the factory was re-orientated so that the main commercial access was on the eastern side and it has remained on this axis despite subsequent modification. All of its gabled sections, as well as those in the general store which dates from the same period, were of a similar span, roof pitch, and rudimentary design which could suggest that once the specifications were established there may not have been any professional architectural or engineering input into its construction. The 1911 building was incorporated into subsequent additions in the mid-20th century which included the elimination of the recessed area in the centre of the roadside elevation pre-1947. As a result of a fire in 1910, all the subsequently constructed buildings and extensions were built using concrete. There is only one exterior exception to this rule, which is a small section of timber cladding visible on the northern side of the building of an undetermined construction date. On the interior each gable’s structure is also of timber construction, as is the lining of some of the walls. The roadside elevation is homogenous, affording the factory building’s only clean sight line, and is punctuated with windows and ventilation equipment of various periods including double-hung sash windows and groups of casement windows. This elevation has three access points including a set of sliding loading bay doors, but the office door at the southern end is the main one. The variety of window fittings, and differences between the reinforced concrete frame and concrete infill construction of the western gable compared with the reinforced concrete of the others, indicate the three different construction periods. The crude finishing of the concrete on this, and all the other elevations, as well as the complex’s auxiliary buildings, is indicative of quick and economy-driven construction due to the utilitarian, industrial nature of the buildings. The most substantial alterations to the factory occurred in 1952, and it has been suggested that Arthur Brown Construction Co. Ltd. was probably responsible for all construction at the factory from this period onwards. This extension and modification project was characterised by reinforced concrete framed and concrete infill constructed components. The main extension was the addition of the cheese curing room, which is the gabled riverside section attached to its 1911 counterpart. The original timber cladding in this addition is generally in good condition, but sections of the ceiling are in a state of disrepair due to rat and water damage. The exterior concrete wall of the earlier gable is now the dividing wall between the gables. The concrete platform of the existing building was also retained when the addition was stepped down in accordance with the slope of the land towards the river. This is visible on the interior and exterior, and necessitated the creation of steps to navigate the split level. The exterior of this section has remained unaltered since 1952 with the exception of the addition of the loading bay canopy, and the blocking of the northern most exterior door. The main focal point of the eastern elevation is the central delivery bay which juts out from the mid section of the factory building and was part of the 1952 alterations. The area south of the bay has a shear rectangular façade and parapet which screens the gabled roof from ground level and is a pre-1947 feature. The delivery bay also has a parapet, but it is stepped, and is the place where the company operational in the building has traditionally painted their name along its decorative banner, designed for that purpose. The bay features a large opening, half of which is occupied by a concrete stage which projects past the line of the facade. The form of this bay is similar to that of the Kaūpokonui company’s Waiokura Branch, as well as others in the region. Originally this delivery dock had a canopy but this was removed when the purpose of the bay changed in accordance with the change in manufacturing function of the factory. This area houses a water tank installed in order to accommodate the initial stages of the gut string preparation which happens in the adjoining interior space of the factory. The delivery bay was flanked immediately south and to slightly further north by two large storage tanks which are still evident from the concrete pad remnants most likely dating from the 1950s extension period or soon after. Aside from these significant structural changes a few of the lean-to and other additions or modifications are of interest. Photographic evidence suggests that the gabled addition on the northeast corner of the factory building, containing the boiler room, dates from 1911 and has subsequently had a further extension to its front elevation in 1952. The chimney of the now disused boiler room was reduced in height c.2006 because it was structurally unstable and hazardous. On the northern side of the building it is evident from the vacant supports that another tank, reportedly an oil tank, has also been removed. . All the exterior tanks would have become obsolete when the factory ceased to house a dairy factory in 1975. The large lean-to addition immediately west of the oil tank supports is a staff cafeteria area and does not feature the same reinforced concrete framing as modifications from the 1950s, and was probably constructed in the 1960s. The interior spaces of the building still generally remain contemporary to their construction dates with a few exceptions, such as the construction of the mezzanine office areas in the southwest corner. Aside from that office area, the flooring is unadorned concrete pad. Also, despite there being three sub-gables in the secondary section of the factory, the interior space is divided into two main spaces. The smaller space is that defined by the 1911 section, whereas the larger space spans the width of the remaining two portions. This large space has been divided using a particle board non-load-bearing partition wall. A false ceiling has also been installed which negates the effect of the skylight of the roadside gable and partially obscures the windows, but subsidiary illumination is provided for the workers in the ‘production hall’ through fluorescent lighting. Other internal changes which have been necessary in order for gut string production, such as the building of the humidity room in the centre of the factory, are non-structural. Other buildings in the factory complex Within the historical boundary of the Kaūpokonui factory there are several smaller structures to be noted. Shelter There is a small concrete shelter situated close to the road and the eastern boundary of the factory which appears to have been built for the benefit of factory workers to use when awaiting transportation. It is uncertain when this was constructed. Factory residence It is recorded that the company provided several residences for staff at the factory. A factory cottage on the small hill east of the factory has subsequently been removed. However, there is a remaining residence within the bounds of the factory, said to have been the cook’s house. This is a timber framed, rusticated weatherboard clad, and corrugated iron roofed building which would have been closely contemporary to the original timber factory. The profile of the main gable section’s bargeboards is similar to those at the first factory. This main gable has another, shorter, gable section perpendicularly attached to it. In addition, one lean-to has been added to each of these gables. The lean-to along the length of the main gable contains the main access point. General Store The Kaupokonui Cooperative Dairy Factory’s general store, built in 1911 opposite the factory building on SH45 in reinforced concrete, is now a residence. The external appearance of the main section of the building has substantially remained the same as when it was newly constructed and it features three gabled sections of a similar span to the contemporary gables of the factory. The corrugated iron roofing has been subsequently replaced. The gable ends on each elevation of the building have timber ventilation cavities which date from the construction period, and the placement of the windows on the eastern and northern sides of the building also appear consistent with that period. The extent of glazing in the store compared with the factory is minimal simply because the function of the building required less light to work by. The building was initially constructed with two lean-tos on its river side. However, by 1952 these were extended and an external door added on the road side. This alteration is still discernible between the main section of the store, and a more recent extension of the building closer to the river. The enclosed gabled entranceway indicates the main access point on the building and was added by 1947. Another more recent exterior addition is the canopy over the second door on this side of the building. Manure shed and other sheds Immediately east of the store is a reinforced concrete structure which seems to have been built c.1915 and was described as the manure shed on early drawings of the factory complex. As with the other gabled structures constructed in the factory complex from 1911, the span and roof pitch are similar, although it is unique in the complex because it is a double height structure. In accordance with its function the shed has a single double-hung sash window on its western elevation. When the factory was rebuilt in 1911 a timber shed was built perpendicular and abutting what would later be the site of the manure shed. After the manure shed had been constructed, another gabled shed was constructing adjoining both the manure shed and the 1911 timber structure. These two structures have now been demolished, however, their presence lingers in the imprints and painted areas on the northern elevation of the remaining shed. The group of buildings opposite the main factory was rounded out with a large stables and some small sheds. The stables are no longer there, but yet another gabled concrete structure remains and dates from 1911-1915. This is was a small single level utility shed structure parallel to the southern side of the store. This building features a small enclosed space and an open bay. Access to inspect and assess the interiors of these buildings could not be obtained. Forecourt and whey tank stand The area around the factory, that was once unadorned forecourt, was concreted c.1952. This initial pad has been added to at various times creating a patchwork effect. As with the contemporaneous extensions to the factory, the sealing of the forecourt was probably motivated by the introduction of milk tankers, whose added capacity and weight would have been problematic in an unsealed area. This concreted area stretches over a c.1939 extension that created a platform on the river side and increased the available level surface area for the later western extensions. The whey tank stand which sits on top of this platform, like the other mid 20th century additions, is a reinforced concrete framed structure with concrete infill. This was essentially a base for the whey tank and has strengthening brackets around the roof eaves. The tank has been removed. Hydro-power scheme structures Powerhouse To the north of the whey tank stand, below the level of, and directly aligned to the concrete extension, is the powerhouse. There had been an external power-house in a similar location as early as 1911. However the current structure probably dates from a later period. The building sits on a reinforced concrete rectangular foundation which is substantially raised above ground level, presumably because of its proximity to the river and as a precaution against potential flood damage. It is a simple timber framed and gabled shed. The panel board cladding of its three exterior walls is not likely to be original fabric and is in a state of disrepair. The glazing in the few small windows has also been removed, and the interior is therefore exposed to the elements. The back wall, which has the Francis turbine protruding from it, is concrete and seems to be part of the concrete extension. Given the turbine is said to have been installed in 1939, the concrete extension and power-house may date from that period. The building also houses the flywheel, pulley gearbox, and draft tube which are beginning to show signs of decay due to exposure. The tail race which directed exhaust water back into the river in a northward direction from the power house is still partially discernible. Penstock sluice gate In the middle of the concreted open space northeast of the main building there is a small grassed area which has a corrugated iron clad lean-to shed and the sluice gate of the underground penstock that runs in a north-western direction between the powerhouse and the forebay tank. This sluice gate is constructed from timber and concrete with a rusted screw mechanism, and was used to moderate the flow of the water entering the penstock. Although the penstock is said to have been installed around 1939 it could date from as early as 1900, if the supposition that the tunnel system dates from that period is correct. A similar structure situated next to the weir was installed in 1920 but is mostly built from concrete. The shed seems to be a post 1952 construction and probably served some function related to the sluice gate, even if only to create a highly visible barrier for the vehicle traffic around the factory. Tunnel and channel system The penstock comprises of an approximately 1m diameter subterranean concrete pipe which moderated the water flow into the turbine. Its location is primarily determined by the entrance point between it and the forebay tank, and also the sluice gate in the middle of the forecourt. It has been suggested that the penstock section was constructed in 1939 after previously being situated under the factory floor. However, drawings from 1915 show the tunnel system in a similar position as it is presently, which suggests that it is highly probable that these features are original although most likely heavily modified. The forebay, or settling, tank is an open, concrete lined, rectangular trough which has entrance points for water at each end. There is no indication of this structure in early drawings and it may therefore have been constructed in 1939 or 1941. This feature was a reservoir for the additional water supply if demand required. Currently the forebay is surrounded by wire fencing and contains a deep layer of soil. The 250m long open trench, flanked by the forebay tank and the tunnel, is heavily silted. The remnants of the two concrete flow diversion structures and channels are still visible and their construction date is uncertain. These features would have been used to divert the water along perpendicular channels to allow maintenance on components further up the hydro-scheme to be completed, or to regulate the amount of water entering the forebay tank and penstock. However, the timber flumes which would have been constructed at the banks of the river have been lost. It is speculated that 440m long by approximately 1.8-2m high underground tunnel directly adjoining the weir may be concrete lined. The river end entrance to the tunnel was incorporated into the 1941 weir installation but was originally created in 1900 when the first weir was built. This tunnel was blocked at its entry point in the bank of the river when the plant was shut down c.1975, using boulders from the river bed obtained using an excavator. Glenn Road/Kaūpokonui River weir The Glenn Road/Kaūpokonui River weir was constructed in concrete during 1941 as a replacement for the original weir, built in 1900. It is a flat top weir and includes an ineffectual fish-pass on its northern side between it and a groin. Although a similarly positioned groin was part of the first weir, this is likely to also be a 1940s feature. The form of the weir is highly unusual as contour weirs are most commonly used. Because it is a flat top weir the water falls clear off of it to the base, whereas on a contour weir it drops down incrementally. Flat top weirs are considered an ideal type for the measurement of water flow because of the way the water drops directly off of them and a measurement station has subsequently been installed at the Glenn Road/Kaūpokonui River weir. The intake of the initial weir is still present in the south bank of the river just above the current weir. Because the weir was built by Lou Butler, who was largely self-taught especially in his capacity as a bridge builder, it is thought to be a unique design. This supposition is strengthened by this probably being his first and only dam or weir. The assessed inadequacy of the fish pass’ design may have been a result of this lack of specialist, or the advantage of current, knowledge regarding specifications for successful fish-passes for differing species. It is difficult to draw definite conclusions about the method of construction without blocking the flow of water to enable further inspection, but it is thought the irregularity in the weir’s crest is caused by the use of vertical precast concrete units, which seems to have been a product of Butler’s ingenuity and is a novel construction method. [In February 2021 the Glenn Road/Kaūpokonui River weir was demolished].