gisborne had edison-beach battery-electric trams from 13 april 1913 to 8 july 1929. there were two trams from the federal storage battery car co, new jersey and two from boon & co, christchurch. ar harris of christchurch was the new zealand agent for edison batteries. the trams were slow; their maximum speed was 32 km/hour, and initially they were restricted by the public works department to 16 km/hour. there were two inland routes: ormond rd, and gladstone rd to te hapara (lytton rd). they were replaced by buses, following a close referendum in 1928.