From 1929 and through the 1930s heavy equipment and iron work for the Waikaremoana power project was brought ashore at Waikokopu, railed to Wairoa, and then carted up to the lake by bullock wagon and traction engines. Also in the 1930s, during the building of the Napier to Wairoa section of the Palmerston North - Gisborne Line, the steelwork for the Mohaka Viaduct was landed at the port and railed to the Mohaka River work site.
