Trams in New Zealand characterised by inflexible routes and expensive infrastructure maintenance. In Wellington there was significant opposition to the closure of the last tramway system in New Zealand, and the final decision to disestablish the remaining lines followed on a public referendum in 1959. All trolleybus systems in New Zealand have now been closed: Christchurch (1956), New Plymouth (1967), Auckland (1980), Dunedin (1982) and Wellington (2017). Auckland City had a private company operating horse-drawn trams from 1884. The Auckland Electric Tram Company's system was officially opened on 17 November 1902, but public service was delayed because three of the motormen, from Sydney, Australia,
Greenwoods Corner, New Zealand the Maori people of Tamaki-makau-rau and Logan Campbell. Mr William Greenwood (1806–1895) was born in Brighton, England, but spent his early life in Bradford, Yorkshire. He travelled to Wellington, New Zealand in September 1840 before moving to Auckland after an earthquake hit Wellington. Greenwood was a stonemason by trade and was engaged by the government to build old St Paul’s Church, completed in 1844. Greenwood’s trowel was used by Governor Hobson when he laid the first foundation stone of St Paul’s Church; the trowel was later presented to the city of Auckland by George S. Graham on behalf of Greenwood