LAKE PUKAKI AT 18% AND DROPPING
Paul Gorman - The Press
28 August 2008
Drastic action may be taken to boost flagging South Island hydro-electric generation and keep power flowing, despite lakes continuing to empty. More>
UNCERTAINTY IS HURTING US
Grant Bradley - New Zealand Herald
28 August 2008
Regulatory uncertainty means energy network company Vector pays a premium for credit, the company says. More>
COST OF KEEPING THE LIGHTS ON
David Caygill - New Zealand Herald
28 August 2008
New Zealalnders look for two things above all from their electricity - certainty the lights will go on when they flick the switch and confidence they aren't paying more than they need to. More>
MALLARD WEIGHS IN OVER WIND FARM
New Zealand Herald
28 August 2008
Environment Minister Trevor Mallard says he intends to call in Contact Energy's proposal for a 180-turbine wind farm near Raglan to be considered by an independent board of inquiry. More>
POWER PRICES TO RISE
James Weir - The Press
27 August 2008
Contact Energy is warning that household power prices will rise at least 6 per cent this year. More>
LOW RAIN, LOW LAKES, HIGH POWER PRICES
James Weir - The Dominion Post
26 August 2008
South Island lakes are nearly at their lowest since the 1992 power crisis and spot prices are still high though the Bluff aluminium smelter has been cutting back productions for almost four months. More>
LINES COMPANY CONSIDERS SMALL PROJECTS
Marta Steeman - The Press
26 August 2008
Electricity lines company Main-Power is investigating two small hydro generation projects - one on the Waimakariri River and the other in the Rakaia Gorge. More>
OUR FATE IS THE EARTHS FATE
David Round - The Press
26 August 2008
The National Party has just released its energy policy. Electricty being fundamental to modern life, National considers insecurity of supply to be intolerable. More>
CONTACT UNCERTAIN DESPITE PROFIT BUMP
James Weir - Waikato Times
25 August 2008
Power company Contact Energy is expected to report a slightly improved annual profit of close to $230 million, though the outlook may be uncertain because of low hydro lake levels in the South Island. More>
LOW SI LAKES CURB PROFIT
James Weir - The Press
25 August 2008
Power company Contact Energy is expected to report a slightly improved annual profit of close to $2.30 million, though the outlook may be uncertain because of low hydro lake levels in the South Island. More>
HOW TO REPLACE HUNTLY
John Kidd - Sunday Star Times
24 August 2008
The release last week of the National Party's energy policy delivered some much needed balance to the New Zealand energy debate. More>
TASMAN RIVER SCHEME MOOTED
Helen Murdoch Nelson - The Press
21 August 2008
Tasman's Matakitaki River is the latest proposed hydro site for the upper South Island. More>
POWER-PRODUCTION PRICES TAKE BIG JUMP
Grant Bradley - New Zealand Herald
20 August 2008
Sky-high wholesale power costs have driven up prices paid and recieved by producers in the June quater by the highest margin since 1980. More>
WEATHER FACTOR TOO BIG
Grant Bradley - New Zealand Herald
20 August 2008
An industry group says electricity input costs revealed in Statistics NZ data show how exposed the country is having so much weather-dependent power generation. More>
GAS GLORY COMES TO WEST COAST TOWN
Bruce Holloway - Waikato Times
16 August 2008
Kawhia is enjoying a burst of commercial activity, due to concentrated offshore seismic testing for natural gas reserves by Australian company Geokinetics, on behalf of Genesis Energy. More>
GAS PLANT TIPPED IF NATS WIN
James Weir - Waikato Times
15 August 2008
Contact Energy could potentially build a huge $600 million new gas-fired power station in Auckland if National gains power, while wind farms would be uneconomic, according to independent energy analyst Bryan Leyland. More>
BACKYARD TURBINES IN ENERGY PROPOSAL
Angela Gregory - New Zealand Herald
14 August 2008
Backyard wind turbines could become more common in rural areas under a proposed national policy on electricity generation. More>
NATIONAL MAY AXE THERMAL BAN
Tracy Watkins - The Dominion Post
14 August 2008
A 10-year ban on new coal and gas-fuelled power stations is likely to be abandoned by National under plans to protect agains future electricity shortages. More>
POWER STATION BAN 'TO GO AFTER ELECTION'
James Weir - The Dominion Post
14 August 2008
The plan to impose a 10-year ban on new gas-fired or coal-fired power stations will probably be abandoned by labour and would certainly be ditched by a National government, a leading energy and resources lawyer says. More>
OMV PROFITABILITY SURGES AS POHOKURA ENTERS FULL OUTPUT
Jame Weir - The Press
12 August 2008
Austrian-based international oil and gas company OMV more than doubled profits to $95 million in New Zealand last year, as the Pohokure field came into full production. More>
PIKE RIVER SALE TALK BEFORE COAL EMERGES
Gary Sheeran - Sunday Star Times
10 August 2008
NZ Oil and Gas could sell its highflying coal-mining offshoot Pike River Coal as early as next year, says McDouall Stuart analyst John Kidd. More>
OIL FIND COULD BE WORTH BILLIONS
The Dominion Post - Waikato Times
9 August 2008
Origin Energy plans to drill a $70 million well for a high-risk search for oil and gas which despite expense, could produce 750 million barrels of oil. More>
ORIGIN WILL SPEND $71M TO FIND OIL AND GAS IN SOUTH
Simon Hartley - Weekend Herald
9 August 2008
Drilling off Dunedin considered high risk but with potentially high rewards. More>
TODD ENERGY HYDRO PLANT MAY BE CUT
The Dominion Post
7 August 2008
A Hydro station belonging to one of Todd Energy's offfshoots, Bay of Plenty Energy, may soon be cut off from supplying power to the grid. More>
RESERVES UPGRADE PUTS POHOKURA IN NEW LEAGUE
The Dominion Post
7 August 2008
Taranaki's Pohokura gasfield has just had its reserves massively upgraded, making it New Zealand's biggest oil producer as well as its second-biggest gas producer. More>
CONSENT FOR $275M HYDRO POWER SCHEME
Errol Kiong - New Zealand Herald
6 August 2008
TrustPower has been given the all-clear for its hydro scheme in Marlborough's Wairau Valley - six years after the plan was first mooted. More>
MERIDIAN ASKED TO EASE WINDFARM
Kay Blundell - The Dominion Post
6 August 2008
Meridian Energy has been asked to deal with concerns about the envisonmental impact of a 31-turbine wind farm planned for Ohariu Valley. More>
EXPLORATORY WELLS WILL PROBE SIZE OF COAL-SEAM GASFIELD
Tina Law - The Press
6 August 2008
The first phase of explorations to determine the extent of coal-seam gas in Southland is about to begin with the drilling of three wells. More>
SUITORS SOUGHT FOR SLAB OF POWERCO
Andrew Janes - The Press
5 August 2008
Australia's Babcock & Brown Infrastructure (BBI) is considering selling up to 50 per cent of New Zealand lines company Powerco. More>
PIKE RIVER COAL TUNNELLING TEAM BREAK THROUGH LAST MAJOR OBSTACLE
New Zealand Herald
5 August 2008
Pike River Coal has broken through the Hawera Fault, which was seen as the last major hurdle for tunnellers at its new mine on the West Coast. More>
COMMISSION INTENTION TO APPROVE HVDC UPGRADE
Press Release: Electrcity Commission - Scoop
1 August 2008
The Electrcity Commission today gave notice that it intends to approve Transpower's $672 million proposal to replace the existing Pole 1 of the HVDC inter-island link. More>
TUI BOOM YEAR BOOST NZOG WAR CHEST
James Weir - The Dominion Post
1 August 2008
New Zealand Oil and Gas is sitting on a near $300 million investment war chest after a boom year from the Tui oilfield and record world prices, but it may end up spending the money overseas. More>
MARINE ENERGY GENERATION FUND OPEN FOR APPLICATION
Hon David Parker - Press Release: New Zealand Government - Scoop
31 July 2008
Round two of the four-year government funding initiative to kick-start the deployment os marine energy devices in New Zealand opens today. More>
SWEET TUI CRUDE DEFIES PREDICTIONS
Waikato Times
31 July 2008
Taranaki's Tui oilfield has ended its first production year as the superstar of New Zealand energy scene, earning $2 billion in revenue. More>
OHARIU WIND FARM MAY BE CUT BACK
Jenny Ling - The Dominion Post
31 July 2008
Wellington City Council is recommending that Meridian Energy's 31-turbine Mill Creek wind farm be scaled back to just 25 turbines. More>
CONTACT ENERGY ATTRATCIVE TO MANY
The Dominion Post
31 July 2008
Contact Energy will probably attract a range of potential bidders, including funds, if a bid for it's Australian parent succeeds. More>
PRICE JUMP PUTS MORE AT RISK
Robyn Bristow - The Press
30 July 2008
People are already digging deep into their pockets to meet the rising cost of petrol and food are about to be hit with the increase in their electricity bills. More>
POWER SHORTAGES COST ECONOMY $3B
Grant Bradley - New Zealand Herald
28 July 2008
Business is licking it's wounds as the country emerges from the winter of tight power supplies. More>
NEW ZEALAND JOINS NEW CLEAN ENERGY PARTNERSHIP
Press Release: New Zeland Government - Scoop
25 July 2008
New Zealand is to work with the United States to promote the use of cleaner and more efficient sources of energy in island nations and territories, Energy Minister David Parker announced today. More>
'POWERSAVERS' ADVERTISING DRAWS TO A CLOSE
Press Release: Transpower - Scoop
22 July 2008
The industry-funded Powersavers advertising campaign will end this week after six weeks of TV, print and radio advertising encouraging consumers to conserve electricity through simple and convenient measures. More>
POWER STATION 'WORTH $90M'
Mike Watson - The Dominion Post
22 July 2008
A proposed $500 million geothermal power station near Taupo could pump $90 million into the local economy, a special board considering the proposal has been told. More>
CONTACT INVESTIGATING WAITAHORA WIND FARM PROJECT
Press Release: Contact Energy - Scoop
21 July 2008
Contact Energy today said it was investigating a new wind farm project on the remote Puketoi Range near Dannevirke in Southern Hawke's Bay. More>
GENESIS BUYS 50PC STAKE IN CRL
New Zealand Herald
21 July 2008
State-owned energy generator Genesis Energy is buying a 50pc stake in CRL Energy, a company researching low-emission coal technologies. More>
POWER CRISIS? WHAT POWER CRISIS?
Press Release: Manufacturers and Exporters Association - Scoop
18 July 2008
The New Zealand Manufacturers and Exporters Association (NZMEA) urge the Government to learn the lessons of yet another power crisis. More>
MIGHTY RIVER PLANS WIND FARM
Waikato Times
18 July 2008
Mighty River Power plans to build up to 131 wind turbines in Palmerston North's Turitea Reserve and on neighbouring properties. More>
NZOG SHARES STEADY DESPITE BAD NEWS FROM MOMOHO WELL
James Weir - The Press
18 July 2008
The Momoho offshore Taranaki exploration well is being abandoned, costing partners - including listed New Zealand Oil & Gas and state-owned Genesis - the thick end of $50 million. More>
THE PRICE OF KEEPING THE LIGHTS ON
Brian Fallow - New Zealand Herald
17 July 2008
It looks like the winter power scare has passed. What a relief. We also learned that consumer electricity prices have risen 6.6 per cent over the past year. More>
APPROVAL FOR VECTOR WELLINGTON NETWORK SALE
Hon Dr Michael Cullen - Scoop
16 July 2008
Government Press Release. Consent has been granted to the joint bid by Cheung Kong Infrastructure Holdings Ltd (CKI) and Hongkong Electric Holdings Ltd (HKE) to acquire up to 100 percent of the shares of Vector Wellington Electricity Network Ltd (VWENL). More>
OIL MAN TELLS SOME HARD TRUTHS
Nick Churchouse - The Press
16 July 2008
The Shell Oil vice-president says three "hard truths" will dominate the energy industry for the next 25 years. But the immediate truth is not as clear. More>
POWER SPEND UP PUT AT $7B
James Weir - The Dominion Post
16 July 2008
The biggest spend up in the power industry for 30 years will result in about $7 billion being spent on generation and transmission lines in the next few years, Transpower chief executive Patrick Strange says. More>
ELECTRICITY INDUSTRY RELAXES
Paul Gorman - The Press
15 July 2008
The nationwide winter power crisis is drawing to a close, but the industry says the South Island is not out of trouble yet. More>
TRUSTPOWER FORECASTS 15 PER CENT GROWTH
Adrian Bathgate - Weekend Herald
12 July 2008
TrustPower, New Zealand's second-largest listed electricity company, expects a 15 per cent rise in 2008/09 operating earnings, driven by higher electricity prices and new generation coming on line. More>
POWER REPORT TARGETS COMPETITION BARRIERS
Grant Bradley - New Zealand Herald
9 July 2008
Barriers to competition in the power sector will come under greater scrutiny following the release of an ELectricity Commission report into the operation of the electricty market. More>
FLICKING THE SWITCH ON CAMPAIGN
James Weir - The Dominion Post
8 July 2008
The national power savings campaign could start to wind down in a fortnight at the earliest if more rainfall enters hydro power lakes, but "we are not out of the woods yet", says Transpower chief executive Patrick Strange. More>
COAL SEAM GAS HAS POTENTIAL TO BOOST SUPPLIES
The Dominion Post
8 July 2008
Gas from coal seams near Huntly could make a significant contribution to national gas supplies if developed, Solid Energy says. More>
LESS CONCRETE FOR WIND FARM
Tina Law - Weekend Press
5 July 2008
NZ Windfarms is using a new innovative design for the foundations at its wind farm near Palmerston North, reducing the amount of concrete used by 40 per cent. More>
MORE POWER FROM WIND
The Press
4 July 2008
Wind energy provided 2.2 per cent of total electricity generation last year, figures from the Ministry of Economic Development reveal. More>
NZ'S OIL OUTPUT SOARS IN PAST YEAR
New Zealand Herald
3 July 2008
New Zealand's self sufficiency in oil more than doubled last year, due to the offshore Tui field coming on stream and greater production from the Pohokura project in Taranaki. More>
WIND FARM MYSTERY IN WINE TOWN
Tanya Katterns - The Dominion Post
2 July 08
As many as 50 turbines may be added to the rugged landscape east of Martinborough. More>
ENGINEER KEEPS MERIDIAN ENERGY GENERATING
James Weir - The Press
2 July 2008
Tim Lusk is seen as a safe pair of hands guiding the $6 billion state-owner Meridian business and is well liked and highly regarded in both the power and telecommunications sectors... More>
FULL STEAM AHEAD FOR NEW KAWERAU PLANT
Grant Bradley - New Zealand Herald
2 July 2008
Mighty River Power days the commissioning and testing of its new 90MW geothermal power station at Kawerau reached a milestone when it was successfully connected and supplied power into the national transmission grid. More>
CONTACT DEAL
The Press
2 July 2008
Contact Energy reached agreements with Nevada's geothermal power company Ormat to supply and build a 23.3 megawatt binary power station in Taupo... More>
POWER SCHEME PLANNED FOR WILDLIFE RESERVE LAKE
Helen Murdoch Nelson - The Press
1 July 2008
A proposed hydro-electric scheme on Lake Matiri, north of Murchison, is worrying some environmentalists. More>
GENERATOR BUYS WINDFLOW STAKE
Tina Law - The Press
1 July 2008
A state owned electricity generator has taken a cornerstone shareholding in Windflow Technology. More>
THIRD BIG WINDFARM PLANNED FOR CITY
Emily Watt - The Dominion Post
1 July 2008
A planned third wind farm could take the number of turbines dotting Wellington's wind-swept outer hills to more than 140 - together providing enough electricity to power every home in the city when operating at full capacity. More>
FRISSION TRIP WOULDN'T SUIT US
Jack Woodward - New Zealand Herald
30 June 2008
Faced with impending energy shortfalls and the need to reduce carbon emissions, many countries are looking again at the nuclea energy option. More>
POWER FROM GROUND HEAT
Weekend Herald
28 June 2008
An Auckland businessman and some private investors say they have found a way to generate all the power New Zealand is ever likely to need without depleting natural resources. More>
WIND FARM SCALED BACK
Belinda Feek and Rebecca Harper - Waikato Times
27 June 2008
Contact Energy has scaled back its proposed North Waikato wind farm. More>
ENERGY FIRMS PUSH FOR GRID UPGRADE
New Zealand Herald
26 June 2008
Contact Energy has withdrawn its Environment Court appeal against Meridian's wind farm in Central Otago, Project Hayes. More>
SPOT PRICES RISE AS COLD SNAP HITS
The Dominion Post
26 June 2008
Wholesale spot power prices rose sharply in the past week as hydro lake levels dipped again and the first winter cold snap prompted a surge in demand. More>
BG GOES HOSTILE WITH BID
Fayen Wong - The Press
25 June 2008
Britain's BG Group has gone hostile, making a $A13.8 billion ($NZ17.3b) bid for Australia's Origin Energy directly to Origin shareholders. More>
POWER CRISIS NOT OVER
James Weir - Waikato Times
25 June 2008
Hydro power lake levels are holding up at 55 per cent of average, with more rain expected in the next few days, but wholesale power prices remain stubbornly high. More>
KIWIS ASKED TO OFFER POWER ALTERNATIVES
Paul Gorman - The Press
24 June 2008
Kiwis are being asked to fire up anything that can generate electricity in a bid to save water in the hydro lakes. More>
HAS THE ELECTRICITY COMMISSION FAILED US?
Gary Sheeran - Sunday Star Times
22 June 2008
We put a collective $230 million on the table to prevent a repeat of winter 2003 when power shortages threatened and prices skyrocketed - and what do we get? More>
YET ANOTHER WINTER OF DISCONTENT
John Kidd - Sunday Star Times
22 June 2008
While the politicians, industry and comentators debate whether winter 2008 is yet deserving of the label "crisis", overlooked is that the winters of 2001, 2003 and 2006 all delivered similarly undesirable outcomes. More>
GENESIS CHIEF BITTER AT LEAVING
Paul Gorman - Weekend Press
21 June 2008
Departing Genesis Energy boss Murray Jackson has taken pot shots at the Government and Energy Minister David Parker at a national conference in Christchurch. More>
SHOOTING THE BREEZE
Paul Easton - The Dominion Post Weekend
21 June 2008
The issue: Wind energy may be green, but just how attractive is it if a wind farm is being built close by? More>
WIND NOT PEAK ANSWER - REPORT
Paul Gorman - The Press
19 June 2008
Wind power is of limited use in winter and in dry spells when hydro lakes are low, a controversial analysis says. More>
COAL USE FOR POWER SOARS
The Press
18 June 2008
The use of coal to produce electricity soared in the first three months of the year as dry weather put the squeeze on hydro generation, new figures show. More>
TIME TO ACT, SAYS TRUSTPOWER
Helen Murdoch Nelson - The Press
18 June 2008
The upper South Island has only four years to prepare for the day that the regions's growth outstrips its electricity supply, TrustPower has warned. More>
TIDAL PROJECT GETS GRANT
Waikato Times
17 June 2008
A project tp generate electricity from the tides in Kaipara Harbour is to recieve a grant of $1.85 million from the Marine Energy Deployment Fund. More>
GOVERNMENT EYES HOUSEHOLDS COMPO
Waikato Times
17 June 2008
Thre Government is preparing to offer compensation to households hit by higher power and fuel prices as a way to win backing for it's emmision trading scheme. More>
CAUTION AS RAIN EASES POWER CRISIS
James Weir - The Dominion Post
17 June 2008
Hydro power lakes were boosted by rain at the weekend, with more to come, but the power system is not "out of the woods" yet. More>
LATEST ENERGY PROJECT PUTS 'WASTE GAS' TO GOOD USE
Errol Kiong - New Zealand Herald
16 June 2008
Second scheme in the pipeline to produce enough power for up to 9000 homes. More>
POWER ABUSE CLAIMS SHOCKING
Carl Hansen - Sunday Star Times
15 June 2008
If electricy generators made $7billion surplus profit in the last 10 years, that doesn't necessarily mean they're abusing market power. More>
ORIGIN TALKS UP KIWI CONNECTION
The Dominion Post Weekend
14 June 2008
Origin energy is talking up it's involvement in New Zealand after completing a deal for Swift Energy's New Zealand oil and gas operations. More>
MERIDIAN AD INQUIRY
The Domion Post Weekend
14 June 2008
The Commerce Commission has launched an inquiry into Meridian Energy's "carbon neutral" advertising amid claims the company is buying up to a third of it's power from thermal generators. More>
PULLING THE PLUG
Nathan Beaumont - The Dominion Post Weekend
14 June 2008
It's Groundhog Day. Stung by rising petrol and food prices and high mortgage rates in the build up to an election, the Government is reluctant to admit another power crisis is looming. More>
RACE FOR ENERGY SPARKS FEARS
Paul Gorman - Weekend Press
14 June 2008
The scramble for energy sources has the Canterbury-Aoraki Conservation Board worried about preserving New Zealand's environment. More>
COUNCILS, FIRMS PRUNE POWER USE
Giles Brown - The Press
12 June 2008
Business, government agencies and councils are trimming their energy use and preparing for a power shortage. More>
GETTING TO GRIPS WITH THE POWER STRUGGLE
Vernon Small - The Dominion Post
12 June 2008
Yes, you do get a bit of politcs in election year. So, of course the Government does not want to admit there is a serious power problem or take measures, till forced to, that suggest there could be one. More>
OATHUHU POWER STATION FIRED UP AGAIN
Waikato Times
11 June 2008
Contact Energy's big Otahuhu B gas-fired power station in Auckland is back in action acfter a five-day shutdown, but national hydro power lakes are just 52 per cent of average and wholesale prices are high. More>
POLITICAL GAMES OVER ENERGY
New Zealand Herald
11 June 2008
For some time, National Party energy spokesman Gerry Brownlee has been keen to conrive an energy crisis. It is an obvious means of further discomforting a government that is reeling on a number of fronts. More>
SMELTER FEELS $12M PAIN IN POWER SQUEEZE
Grant Bradley - New Zealand Herald
11 June 2008
Big users say fallout will hurt all companies. The power squeeze has cost the country's biggest user over $12 million in lost production and an industry group has warned all businesses are going to be hurt by fallout from the threatened crisis. More>
GEOTHERMAL PLANT PACKS A LOT OF POWER
New Zealand Herald
11 June 2008
Mighty River Power says it's Kawerau geothermal station, due to come fully on stream two months ahead of schedule, will provide as much power as a hydro station or wind farm with more than twice it's capacity. More>
WAVE ENERGY POPULAR
Waikato Times
10 June 2008
New Zealand's waves and tides are a world-class resource for energy generation... More>
WINDS GREAT POTENTIAL
Fraser Clark - The Press
10 June 2008
With a wind peak electricity demand of about 6700MW and installed generation capacity of more than 8500MW, are New Zealand's electricity woes really caused by a lack of capacity, as Bryan Leyland argues ("Power woes no surprise", May 22)? More>
GREEN LIGHT FOR WIND FARM
Mataura Hearing - The Press
10 June 2008
TrustPower was yesterday given the green light for it's largest wind farm development, east of Mataura, but opponents are already warning of an appeal. More>
LOWERING LAKES AN ENVIRONMENTAL RISK
Paul Gorman - The Press
10 June 2008
Dust-storms in the MacKenzie Basin and damaged highways may be the cost of lowering southern hydro lakes to help ease a winter power crisis. More>
'NO CRISIS' BUT SAVE POWER NOW
Colin Espiner - The Press
10 June 2008
The public will be asked to start saving power from this weekend, despite the governments insistence that there is no looming power crisis. More>
POWER OUTLOOK GRIM DESPITE GAS BURNING
James Weir - The Dominion Post
10 June 2008
Contact Energy's Otahuhu B power station is back in action after a five-day shutdown, but with national hydro-electric lakes at 52 per cent of their average capacity and wholsale prices high there is still concern about power reserves. More>
ENERGY CRUNCH AS LAKES DRY UP
Waikato Times
9 June 2008
Home owners are being urged to cut power use by up to 15 per cent in peak times as the government grapples with the developing power crisis. More>
THE SOUTHERN STOUSH OVER HARNESSING POWER OF THE WIND
Grant Bradley - New Zealand Herald
9 June 2008
With lake levels dropping and a power crisis looming, energy reporter Grant Bradley heads south to see if the answer is blowing in the wind. More>
NEW MOVES TO POWER COUNTRY THROUGH WINTER
Craig Borley - New Zealand Herald
9 June 2008
The Cabinet will today discuss a range of anti-blackout measures - but industry insiders remain confident the lights will saty on this winter. More>
LET THERE BE LIGHT, AND MARKET
Carl Hansen - The Dominion Post
9 June 2008
The market approach to electricity is coming under scrutiny by consumers and media comentators in the wake of severe hydro shortages and high spot prices for electricity. More>
WIND FARM NOT BY WEL ALONE?
Bruce Holloway - Waikato Times
7 June 2008
Wel Networks finally has consents for a wind farm at Te Uku, but says it's now down to economics. More>
STORM OVER WIND FARM GAINING STRENGTH
Paul Gorman - Weekend Press
7 June 2008
Even on the clearest day, the view accross Sydney's bustling harbour does not extend 200km south-east over the horizon to Central Otago's open spaces. More>
POWER-SAVING CAMPAIGN WEEKS AWAY
James Weir - Waikato Times
4 June 2008
Hydro lake storage levels continue to fall, hitting a "grim" 53 per cent of average, down from 74 per cent in April, with a public savings campaign likely to be just a fortnight away. More>
CONTACT LIKELY TO BE ONSOLD
Andrew Janes - The Dominion Post
13 May 2008
BG Group signals it does not want full ownership. More>
COUNTDOWN TO A POWER CRISIS
Paul Gorman - Weekend Press
10 May 2008
Low South Island hydro-lake levels are nothing new but this winter other factors threaten our power supply. More>
TIWAI CUTS CONSUMPTION AS ELECTRICITY PRICES SOAR
Garry Sheeran - Sunday Star Times
4 May 2008
Production cutbacks at Tiwai Point aluminium smelter may be the first of many hits on some of the country's biggest exporters this winter if rains fail to arrive over critical South Island hydro lakes. More>
LOW LAKES THREATEN SUPPLY
James Weir - The Dominion Post
2 May 2008
Extremely low hydro power lake storage is a significant concern, but a public electricity savings campaign will only be the start if severe drought continues, Transpower says. More>
REPORT SLAMS EMISSIONS SCHEME
Brian FAllow - New Zealand Herald
30 April 2008
Government plan is not fair, it says, and would do little to prepare the economy for a more stringent international regime. More>
GOVT RELAXED ABOUT SALE OF GRID
Dan Eaton - The Press
29 April 2008
The Government says it has no problem with Chinese investors buying a large part of the capital's electricity grid from power company Vector. More
ELECTRICITY THROUGH WAVE POWER
Anthony Doesburg - New Zealand Herald
28 April 2008
A prototype of what is likely to be the first turbine for tapping the tidal energy of New Zealand waters is sailing around Scottish seas bolted to a ship. More>
STUDY SHOWS LOW PRICE OF INTERGRATING WIND POWER
Brian Fallow - New Zealand Herald
28 April 2008
The cost of intergrating wind power into the electricity system are relatively low, a study has found. More>
DRILLING FOR GAS IN THE COAL
Nikki Preston - Waikato Times
24 April 2008
Solid Energy is burning money at a farm in Huntly as it continues to investigate the viability of opening a massive coal seam near the town capable of powering the country for two years. More>
The Dominion Post
23 April 2008
Contact Energy's Stratford combined-cycle power station is generating at full capacity after a lenghty refurbishment that added to stress on the country's electricity supply. More
LANDCARE DEFENDS REPORT
Robyn Bristow - The Press
18 April 2008
Landcare Research is standing by its report on Meridian Energy's proposed Mokihinui dam, north of Westport. More>
MERIDIAN FAULTS OWN REPORT
The Press
17 April 2008
Meridian Energy says a Landcare Research report it commissioned on its proposed Mokihinui dam, north of Westport, is a "real disappiontment" and "lacks common sense". More>
ELECTRICITY SUPPLY AT 'HIGH RISK'
Paul Gorman - The Press
15 April 2008
New Zealand's largest electricity consumers are on stand-by to cut power use as southern hydro lakes continue emptying and a winter crisis draws nearer. More>
GREEN LIGHT FOR COOK STRAIT ENERGY GENERATOR TRIAL
Anthony Doesburg - New Zealand Herald
15 April 2008
Approval has been given for a marine energy trial in Cook Strait, which the project's backers believe has the potential to provide more than the country's current generation capacity. More>
MERIDIAN MAKES BOARD MEMBER CHIEF
James Weir - The Dominion Post
10 April 2008
Tim Lusk is seen as a safe pair of hands to run the $6 billion business...More>
NORTHERN GAS STATION IN PIPELINE
James Weir - Waikato Times
7 April 2008
State-owned Genesis Energy is still aiming for a big gas-fired power station worth hundreds of millions of dollars north of Auckland despite the Government's 10 year ban on new base load generation. More>
VACATING THE SEAT OF POWER
Garry Sheeran - Sunday Star Times
6 April 2008
The departing boss of Meridian explains why your power bills have soared. More
TRUST EXPECTS SEVEN-FIGURE WINDFALL FROM POWER STATION
Yvonne Tahana - New Zealand Herald
2 April 2008
A small Ngati Tahu-owned trust is predicting its investment in a new power station will return a seven-figure windfall. More>
MAN OF POWER TO SWITCH OFF?
James Weir - The Press
2 April 2008
Meridian Energy chief executive Keith Turner stepped down this week, but remains enigmatic about what is next for hm or even if the power system is being run the right way. More>
THE SECRET LIFE OF (NUCLEAR) PLANTS
Nikki Macdonald - The Dominion Post
29 March 2008
Exploring the innards of a nuclear power station. More>
ARE WE READY TO JOIN THE NUCLEAR FAMILY?
Nikki Macdonald - The Dominion Post Weekend
29 March 2008
While most New Zealanders have supported the country's anti-nuclear stance, the climate-change crisis is forcing a rethink - even prominent environmentalists are now saying nuclear power is 'the only green solution'. More>
GOVT REJECTS FORECAST OF 50% POWER PRICE RISE
New Zealand Herald
28 March 2008
The Government says claims its energy policy could drive electricity prices up by 50 per cent are incorrect and driven by self interest. More>
GAS BAN ' WILL PUT PRICES UP 50PC '
James Weir - The Dominion Post
27 March 2008
Electrictiy prices could rise 40 to 50 percent, adjusting for inflation, because of the Government's ban on gas-fired power stations and its target for 90 percent renewable power. More>
TRANSPOWER SPENDING $140M ON PYLON LAND
James Ihaka - New Zealand Herald
26 March 2008
SOE defends purchase of 71 properties before gaining consent for grid upgrade. More>
DROUGHT HITS HOME AND MIGHTY RIVER FACES A TRICKLE FROM TAUPO
Andrew Janes - Waikato Times
26 March 2008
Mighty River Power has warned of a tough second half as production from its Waikato River hydro stations is hit by the ongoig drought. More>
HEAVIES OUT FOR START OF INQUIRY
Bruce Holloway - Waikato Times
26 March 2008
But the opening day of a six month hearing into Transpower's proposal to build a new 186km 400kV electricity transmission line from Whakamaru to Auckland largely failed to live up to its dramatic security billing. More>
PYLON HEARINGS SET TO TAKE FIVE MONTHS
New Zealand Herald - 25 March 2008
A five monnth inquiry into the plan to put giant electricity pylons thruogh Waikato begins in Hamilton today. More>
PRICE SPIKE LINKED TO LACK OF WIND
James Weir - The Dominion Post
25 March 2008
Wholesale electricity prices have been high in the past couple of months, but only in part because of lack of breezes to run the country's wind turbines, says the Wind Energy Association. More>
ELECTRCITY PRODUCTION EMISSIONS DOWN 10PC
The Dominion Post
19 March 2008
New Zealand's production of greenhouse gases from electricity generation dropped 10 per cent in the December quarter, compared with a year earlier. More>
ENGINEER WHO KNOWS HOW TO ACCEPT CHALLENGE
Grant Bradley - New Zealand Herald
25 March 2008
Patrick Strange, chief executive of Transpower. More>
MERIDIAN'S AQUA LAND VALUES MORE THAN DOUBLE
New Zealand Herald - 25 March 2008
Meridian Energy Ltd could more than double the money it invested in buying land in the Waikato Valley for its Project Aqua power scheme. More>
PYLON FOES TO FIGHT DEEP POCKETS
Bob McQueen - Waikato Times
24 March 2008
Opponents of Transpower's plans to march a line of giant pylons through the Waikato are gearing up for their final fight. More>
SWITCH FROM COAL TO GAS REDUCES CARBON
Grant Bradley - New Zealand Herald
20 March 2008
Genesis Energy's new gas turbine at Huntly has helped cut greenhouse gas emissions from electricity generation. More>
SAFETY VOW ON AGEING CABLE
The Dominion Post
14 March 2008
Public safety will not be put at risk by a plan to recommission an aged part of the Cook Strait cable, Transpower officials say. More>
EAST CAPE SET FOR BIG OIL AND GAS HUNT
Grant Bradley - New Zealand Herald
12 March 2008
Billions of barrels worth could be lurking below the Raukumara Plain conference told. More>
TIME TO STOP TILTING AT WINDMILLS
Fraser Clark - The Dominion Post
12 March 2008
Windfarms will not solve all New Zealand's energy problems but they should be part of the solution. More>
INDUSTRY BUOYANT AS GAS RESERVE GROW
James Weir - The Dominion Post
11 March 2008
Gas reseves have grown significantly in the past five years and more may be discovered, broker McDouall Stuart says. More>
NEW POWER PLANT AT ROTOKAWA
Roeland van den Bergh - The Press
7 March 2008
Mighty River Power will spend $450 million building a new geothermal power station a Rotokawa, 10km north of Taupo. More>
THE FUTURE OF POWER OR A LARGE WHITE ELEPHANT?
Bruce Holloway - Waikato Times
6 March 2008
Wind power used to be considered the enviromentally friendly alternative to fossil fuels. More>
WIND FARM BATTLE SET TO GO TO COURT
Bruce Holloway - Waikato Times
1 March 2008
The Te Uku wind farm stoush looks destined to be decided in court whatever the decision from the just-ended hearing. More>
MERIDIAN APPLIES TO CHANGE WIND FARM
Kay Blundell - The Dominion Post Weekend
1 March 2008
Meridian Energy has gone back to the drawing board after discovering a turbine design glitch affecting contentious wind farms planned for Wellington. More>
CONTACT AGAIN THINKING BIG
Andrew Janes - The Press
27 February 2008
Controversial large hydro projects will have to make a comeback if the Government is to meet it's renewable energy targets, Contact Energy chief executive David Baldwin says. More>
WIND POWER PLAN OPPOSED
Jarrod Booker - New Zealand Herald
22 February 2008
A proposed windfarm will devastate an ecosystem unique to New Zealand, a conservation authority warns. More>
POWER GAP NEEDS TO CLOSED BEFORE WINTER
Brian Fallow - New Zealand Herald
22 February 2008
Hydro reserves are expected to make up shortfall but are running low. More>
NO BLACKOUTS DURING WINTER, EXPERTS FORECAST
New Zealand Herald
22 February 2008
The group looking at whether enough power will be available for peak winter demand has concluded there is unlikely to be any impact on supply to consumers. More>
POWER BACKUP OPTIONS DUE AS LAKE LEVELS DIP
Grant Bradley - New Zealand Herald
21 February 2008
Details of emergency measures to cope with any electricity shortages will be released today as hydro lake storage dips to levels seen before the 1992 power crisis. More>
NEVER FAR FROM POWER
James Weir - The Dominion Post
20 February 2008
David Caygill is the Cliff Richard of Kiwi politics. More>
COMMISSION TO WEIGH UP POWER PLANS
James Weir - The Dominion Post
20 February 2008
The Electricity Commission could take on the role of deciding what exactly defines a base-load power station which runs most of the time, as against a "peaking" station which comes on when demand is high, its chairman says. More>
VECTOR LINES UP TRIO
Andrew Janes - The Dominion Post
20 February 2008
Lines company Vector is understood to have invited three parties, including Hong Kong's Cheung Kong Infrastructure and Hastings Funds Management in partnership with Westpac, to do due diligence on its Wellington electricity network, with final bids expected by next April. More>
BLACKOUT THREAT AS DROUGHT WORSENS
Marta Steeman - The Dominion Post
12 February 2008
Emergency plans to cope with a power shortage are being prepared for tthe North Island as the country's drought worsens. More>
ENERGY CONSULTANT BACKS TE UKU WIND FARM
Bruce Holloway - Waikato Times
8 February 2008
An energy investment consultant is recommending Wel Networks proceed with it's $200 million Te Uku wind farm, describing the project as financially viable if all planned turbines are accepted. More>
INVESTMENT DANGER FOR ELECTRICITY SUPPLY
Owen Hembry - New Zealand Herald
5 February 2008
Climate change law and energy strategy likely to boost cost of power, says agancy. More>
SHUTDOWN THREATENS ELECTRICITY SUPPLIES.
Jo-Marie Baker - Bay of Plenty Times
1 February 2008
Electricity supply will be stretched to the limit in Bay of Plenty today - and some large-scale businesses may be asked to shut down part of their operations to cope. More>
NZOG CELEBRATES TUI DEVELOPMENT
The Press
1 February 2008
New Zealand Oil & Gas (NZOG) has one word to describe its December quarter - outstanding. More>
THERMAL PLANT 'WOULD SECURE POWER SUPPLY'
Wayne Thompson - New Zealand Herald
1 February 2008
Independent commissioners rather than councillors will hear the special zone application. More>
SUNSHINE HEATS UP ELECTRICITY PRICES
Garry Sheeran - Sunday Star Times
3 February 2008
Power prices spike at 14-times the average price. More>
POWER PROJECT SPARKS DEFIANCE
Laura Basham - Weekend Press
2 February 2008
Energy company TrustPower might get permission to build a new power scheme in Marlborough, but the continued defiance of land owners might stop it ever being able to see its consents through. More>
RESIDENTS SHOCKED BY WIND FARM PLAN
Kay Blundell - The Dominion Post
31 January 2008
Residents of the Ohariu Valley near Wellington say they are blown away by the plans for a 31-turbine wind farm and are likely to object. More>
ELECTRIC PRICES SOARING
Bay of Plenty Times
28 January 2008
Diesel-burning power station eases shortage. More>
$40M WIND FARM RPOPOSED NEAR DUNEDIN
David Williams - The Press
28 January 2008
The company behind a proposed $40 million wind farm near Dunedin will decide in six months whether to persue the project. More>)
NI POWER ON 'EDGE OF A SHORTAGE'
Paul Gorman - The Press
28 January 2008
The North Island is on the brink of major electricity shortages, and continuing dry weather will threaten the South Island's winter supply. More>
FARM WINDFALL
Kay Blundell - The Dominion Post
30 January 2008
Meridian Energy has confirmed plans for a 31-turbine wind farm in Ohariu Valley, after battling for two years against strong community opposition to develop a $420 million wind farm at Makara. More>
POWER CRISIS LOOMS AS CAPACITY FALLS
Jarrod Booker - New Zealand Herald
29 January 2008
Supply imbalance pushes up prices in the north while southern lake levels falling. More>
MERIDIAN'S DAM VEXES LOBBYISTS
Sandra Cox - The Press
22 January 2008
A planned $250 million hydro dam on the West Coast that would meet the electricity needs of the region and elsewhere has angered environmentalists. More>
WAIRAU HYDRO-ELECTRIC SCHEME MOST LOGICAL
Laura Basham - The Press
17 January 2008
TrustPower's proposed hydro-electric scheme on Malborough's Wairau River will be efficient. More>
TRUSTPOWER HYDRO-PLAN SPARKS OPPOSITION
The Dominion Post
15 January 2008
A lot of time and money has gone into TrustPower's proposal to construct and operate a $280 million hydro-power scheme in Marlborough - and opposition to it. More>
ENERGY STRATEGY RISKS POWER SHORTAGES.
James Weir - The Press
2 January 2008
The Government's Energy Strategy aims to reduce carbon emissions fron power stations to help reduce man-made greenhouse gases. More>
STATEGY SWITCH SPARKS POWER STRUGGLE WARNING
James Weir - The Dominion Post
2 January 2008
The governments Energy Stategy could lead to power shortages and price rises, a critic says. More>
POWER SUPPLY FEARS TRIGGERED
Marta Steeman - The Press
21 December 2007
The closing of the New Plymouth power plant and reduced transmission on the Cook Strait cable have triggered fears about secure power supplies next winter. More>
CONTACT FULL STEAM AHEAD
Marta Steeman - The Dominion Post
21 December 2007
Fast track for $500 million power plant. More>
'NO 8 WIRE' SOLUTION TO POWER DANGER
Grant Bradley - New Zealand Herald
20 December 2007
Transpower may bring back part of the inter-island link to deal with any shortage. More>
GENESIS HAILS GAS RULING 'CERTAINTY'
The Dominion Post
14 December 2007
Genesis Energy says it is still reviewing the engineering and operational specifications of its proposed gas-fired power station in Rodney. More>
POWER TRANSMISSION SHAKEUP SPARKS ALARM
Bruce Holloway - Waikato Times
12 December 2007
Waikato District Council has raised a long list of concerns about proposed new National Environment Standards for electricity transmission. More>
LEGAL BATTLES OVER GAS-FIRED POWER PLANT STILL NOT OVER
The Dominion Post
12 December 2007
Contrary to what Cabinet ministers may have said, the Court of Appeal sees no signs of Genesis canning its plans for a plant north of Auckland. More>
COLD COMFORT FROM 'CRAZY' BAN
James Weir - The Dominion Post
5 December 2007
The Government's 10-year ban on building new fossil fuel power stations is "crazy" and could cause electricity prices to jump 30 per cent to 40 per cent within a few years, electricity consultant Bryan Leyland says. More>
BUILD IT ... JUST NOT NEAR ME
Bruce Holloway - Waikato Times
5 December 2007
The "not in my backyard" view rules in a district where many residents dont mind wind farms - just not any where near them. More>
POWER PRICE RISE COST OF CLIMATE FIGHT
Colin Espiner - The Press
5 December 2007
Power Prices are likely to rise after the Government took a legisative stick to electricity companies imposing a 10-year moratorium on the construction of therman power plants. More>
FOSSIL FUEL BAN 'SHOULD NOT COST CONSUMERS'
Brian Fallow - New Zealand Herald
5 December 2007
Govt out to raise proportion of electricity from renewable sources to 90 per cent by 2025. More>
POWER PROJECT'S CONSENTS PASSED
Waikato Times
4 December 2007
An Environment Waikato hearing committee has approved resource consents for a new Taupo geothermal power station that will "help meet New Zealand's growing energy demands in an enviornmentally friendly way". More>
GOVT TO REAP $5.6B CARBON TRADE WINDFALL
Garry Sheeran - Sunday Star Times
2 December 2007
The Government stands to reap up to $5.6 billion in extra revenue from the introduction of an emissions trading system, official figures show. And power generating companies could pocket net windfall gains of another $2b during 2010 - 2015. More>
MINISTER OUT OF WHACK ON IMPORTANCE OF GAS
John Pfahlert - New Zealand Herald
30 November 2007
John Pfahlert has grave doubts that the Government understands how the gas industry operates. More>
WIND EXPERT BLASTS TE UKU PLAN
Bruce Holloway - Waikato Times
29 November 2007
The proposed Te Uku wind farm has come under attack frm a man who spent many years designing such projects. More>
GOVT PROPOSAL MEANS MORE COUNCIL WORK
Rebecca Harper - Waikato Times
27 November 2007
Proposed government standards for high-voltage transmission lines will mean more work for local bodies and a threat to private property rights, one council says. More>
FARMERS AND LIFESTYLERS DIGGING DEEP TO CONTINUE BATTLE AGAINST PYLONS
Simon O'Rourke - New Zealand Herald
23 November 2007
Auckland Lawyer Paul Cavanagh, QC, says the Electricity Commissiton's decision to approve Transpower's grid upgrade plan through the Waikato is "flawed" as he prepares to fight the controversial project. More>
TURBINE WAITING LIST HITS WIND FARM
Bruce Holloway - Waikato Times
22 November 2007
Wel Networks proposed Te Uku wind farm likely to be delayed because of a two year waiting list for the turbines to be delivered due to surging global demand...More>
$600M POWER LINES UPGRADE PLANNED
David Bruce - New Zealand Herald
9 November 2007
Transpower wants to improve carrying capacity from the south. Sate-owned enterprise Transpower is set to release plans for a $600 million line upgrade. More>
WAIRAKEI TO LOSE STEAM
Burce Holloway - Waikato Times
7 November 2007
The landmark Wairakei Power Station will eventually be decomissioned once a new geothermal plant is built near Taupo. More>
WIND FARM PLANNED NEAR GORE FOR $440M
Energy Reporter - New Zealand Herald
7 November 2007
Trustpower says project on private land could supply equivalent of 113,000 homes. More>
CONCERN OVER FUTURE WIND FARM PROJECTS
Grant Bradley - New Zealand Herald
1 November 2007
Meridian Energy has used the announcement of the approval of its 176-turbine wind farm in Central Otago to highlight concerns about the inter island power link. More>
WOODBURNERS TO THE RESCUE
James Weir - The Dominion Post
27 October 2007
Clean wood-burning fires could help the poor, elderly and schools beat higher power prices and may even help hold overall power prices down, says energy analyst Molly Melhuish. More>
GENESIS TO GAIN CONTROL FROM CARDIFF GAS DEAL
The Dominion Post
23 October 2007
Independent Canadian oil and gas company Tag Oil has cut a deal which will give majority control of the Cardiff deep gas prospect off Taranaki to state generator Genesis Energy.
More>
BIG POWER CHANGE IN THE WIND
New Zealand Herald
23 October 2007
The Government has been paying lip service to the subjects of climate change and environmental sustainablibly to a long while. Now it has bared some teeth first introducing legislation to require motor fuel companies to sell some biofuel, followed closely by an "energy strategy" that proposes a qualified ban on the building of fossilfulled electirc powerstations or 10 years. More>
ENGINEERING SOLUTIONS FOR NATIONAL BENEFIT
Andrew Cleland - The Dominion Post
22 October 2007
Energy is perhaps the most freely traded commodity in the world, even taking into account the influence of the Middle East politics. More>
VECTOR CHAIRMAN FIRES BORADSIDE AT REGULATOR
Andam Bennett - Weekend Herald
20 October 2007
Eight months after hailing Vector's "much strengthened relationship" with the Commerce Commission, Chairman Michael Stiassny fired a withering salvo at the regulator during the company's annual meeting in Auckland yesterday. More>
VECTOR ATTACKS COMMERCE COMMISSION
Andrew Janes - The Dominion Post Weekend
20 October 2007
The Commerce Commissions aggressive approach is damaging Vector's investment confidence and causing it to delay deploying broadband and energy efficiency technology, Vector Chairman Michael Stiassny says. More>
WINDFLOW SEEKS TO RAISE $10M
Tina Law - The Dominion Post Weekend
20 October 2007
In an attempt to target international markets, Windflow Technology is developing three different versions of its wind turbine. More>
GAS A CHEAPER OPTION
James Weir - The Dominion Post Weekend
20 October 2007
Contact Energy is "betting the balance sheet", according to some market watchers, with plans announce this week to spend up to $2 billion on a Waikato wind farm. More>
ITS BLOWING IN THE WIND
Waikato Times
19 October 2007
In West Cumbria, England, a lobby group are campaigning against a wind farm in their corner of the world. Yet the unveiling of such a plan in the Waikato this week has been met with a positive, if not beaming, response from property owners. More>
CONTACT PLANS $2B WIND FARM
James Weir - The Dominion Post
17 October 2007
Contact Energy is planning New Zealand's biggest wind farm costing up to $2 billion, but investors are initially balking at the price tag. More>
CONTACT RULES OUT CASH CALL
James Weir - The Dominion Post
18 October 2007
Contact energy says it has plenty of "headroom" to increase its debt to pay for about $3billion o power projects in coming years and won't need to call on shareholders for cash. More>
HARVESTING WINDS TO POWER HOMES AND FACTORIES WE LIVE AND WORK IN
Alanah May Eriksen - New Zealand Herald
18 October 2007
Newest farm will cost $2 Billion and deliver power for 250,000 houses. More>
STRATEGY 'MAY LEAD TO POWER BLACKOUTS'
James Weir - The Press
16 October 2007
New Zealand risks power blackouts in its homes and businesses because of the Government's strategy, the oil and gas industry says. More>
GOVERNMENTS ECO-PLAN AGAINST FRIDGES
Paula Oliver - New Zealand Herald
12 October 2007
Old fridges generate at least double the amount of electricity of a new fridge and the new government plan for cleaner greener energy use is considering using financial incentives to put up to 450,000 old fridges out to pasture. More>
INCREASE IN THE PRICE OF POWER
James Weir - The Dominion Post
10 October 2007
Increases in the price of power will continue to grow due to a drop in net profit. Though despite this customer numbers are still increasing. More>
ELECTRICITY SUPPLY IN JEOPARDY DUE TO LEGAL APPEALS
New Zealand Herald - Mathew Dearnaley
2 October 2007
Electricity supply may be at risk due to appeals against increases to electricity currents along high-voltage overhead lines through Auckland says Transpower. More>
DEAL BETWEEN SMELTER AND MERIDIAN
The Dominion Post - James Weir
2 October 2007
A secret deal, thought to be worth more than $5 billion over 18 years, has been signed by Meridian Energy and Bluff Aluminium Smelter. More>
NGAI TAHU AGAINST HYDRO PROJECT
John Keast - The Press
The Press
Opposition of the North Bank tunnel hydro project by Ngai Tahu is due to Meridian Energy's Ability to address the impact on cultural values, says iwi chairman Mark Soloman. More>
WIND POWER ADVANCE
The Press
28 September 2007
The Makara wind farm is expected to be the worlds biggest wind farm, but the plan has had strong opposition from residents. More>
CAYGILL SET TO LEAD THE ELECTRICITY COMMISSION
Marta Steeman - The Press
28 September 2007
The Government has appointed former Labour finance minister David Caygill as chair of the Electricity Commission. Objections from National Party energy spokesperson, Gerry Brownlee, highlighted Caygill conflict of interest in his role as Infratil director. More>
PRACTICAL BUT TOO AMBITIOUS
Rod Oram - Sunday Star Times
23 September 2007
The ups and downs of the governments proposals to reduce New Zealand's greenhouse gases through carbon caps and trade policies. More>
CONTENTION OVER MEETING GOVERNMENTS RENEWABLE ENERGY TARGET
Garry Sheeran - Sunday Star Times
23 September 2007
With the governments goal of 90% renewable energy by 2025, there is debate as to whether this percentage can be reached despite enthusiasm from some industry participants. More>
POWER PRICE GULD WIDENS
Garry Sheeran - Sunday Star Times
16 September 2007
The Government is being urged to put the job of rolling out fibre-optic cable to Telecom's roadside cabinets out to tender and give the company's competitors access to its ducts and manholes. More>
OIL FIRM TO RAISE $50M FOR PLANNED EXPLORATION
James Weir - Dominion Post
13 September 2007
Tiny Wellington-based oil and gas exploration company Austral Pacific aims to raise up to US$35 million (NZ$50 million) for ongoing work in coming months. More>
NUCLEAR NOT SO CLEAR
NZ Herald
13 September 2007
The world is moving quickly in matters pertaining to nuclear power; but can expect ongoing dogmatism from New Zealand. The recent Apec meeting, if little else, did raise serious questions for New Zealanders and our decision of more than 20 years ago that nuclear power is not appropriate. More>
KUPE GAS FIELD COSTS SKYROCKET
James Weir - Dominion Post
12 September 2007
The giant Kupe gas project in Taranaki will cost 10 per cent more than the original estimate of $980 million, as world prices for equipment and hire of drilling rigs rocket up in an overheated market. More>
GEOTHERMAL PLANTS MAY NOT BE READY IN TIME
Adam Bennett - NZ Herald
29 August 2007
Contact Energy says it is likely to go ahead with a new gas-fired power station at Otahuhu to meet the looming demand unless the Government fast-tracks the consent process for renewable generation. More>
POWER UPGRADE PLANNED IN SOUTH ISLAND
Paul Gorman - The Press
22 August 2007
Key segments of the South Island's electricity grid will be upgraded by Transpower to reduce the chances of power blackouts caused by cascade failure in the next 10 years. More>
PYLONS MAJOR HEALTH HAZARD
Simon O'Rourke - NZ Herald
21 August 2007
A medical expert has told a board of inquiry the disks of living near high-voltage power lines include childhood leukaemia, miscarriage and other ill health. More>
VECTOR MIGHT SELL WELLINGTON NETWORK
Andrew Janes - Dominion Post
16 August 2007
Vector is looking at a possible sale of its Wellington electricity network, thought to be worth about $1 billion. More>
MAKARA WIND FARM LOSES MORE TURBINES
James Weir - Dominion Post
16 August 2007
The Makara wind farm near Wellington will be smaller and about $80 million cheaper than expected, with work on the $430 million project to start next month. More>
MERIDIAN CONFIRMS START DATE FOR PROJECT WEST WIND
Scoop
15 August 2007
Meridian Energy has confirmed it will go ahead with its Wellington wind farm and expects to begin the project within the next month. CEO Dr Turner said this project will make a substantial contribution to renewable energy in the lower North Island. More>
CALL FOR NZ TO GO NUCLEAR
Alan Wood - The Press
15 August 2007
It is time Kiwis debated the introduction of nuclear power as a clean energy source, a mining industry consultant says. More>
EMMISSIONS TRADING LIKELY TO GET GREEN LIGHT NEXT MONTH
NZ Energy & Environment
15 August 2007
Cabinet will decide within the next three weeks whether to proceed with an emissions trading scheme. More>
UNISON LAUNCHES NEW PLANS FOR TE WAKA WIND FARM
NZ Energy & Environment
15 August 2007
Hawke's Bay lines company Unison is determined to build a wind farm in the Te Waka Range, near the Napier-Taupo road, despite the Environment Court rejecting its original plans for a 37-turbine project earlier this year. More>
CONTACT ON TRACK WITH TE MIHI GEOTHERMAL PLANT
NZ Energy & Environment
15 August 2007
Contact Energy has filed consent applications for its proposed 225MW Te Mihi geothermal power station, north of Taupo. More>
COURT SQUASHES GOWAN RIVER HYDRO PROJECT
NZ Energy & Environment
15 August 2007
The Environment Court has upheld the Buller River Water Conservation Order, effectively ruling out a proposed hydro power scheme on the Gowan River, the Buller's main tributary. More>
MUCH MORE POWER POSSIBLE
John Keast - The Press
15 August 07
Meridian says putting water through the proposed North Bank tunnel scheme would generate four or five times more power than the Waitaki power station. More>
MERIDIAN PUTS CASE FOR $900M POWER PROJECT
John Keast - The Press
14 August 2007
A new $900 million Waitaki hydro project would help ensure critical security of electricity supply in the South Island, says Meridian Energy. More>
SECURE POWER SUPPLY BACKED BY MERIDIAN
John Keast - Dominion Post
14 August 2007
Meridian Energy says a new $900 million Waitaki hydro project will help ensure security of electricity supply to the South Island. Meridian proposes to take water out of Lake Waitaki and run it through the tunnel before discharging it back into lower Waitaki River. More>
HEARINGS BEGIN ON WAITAKI PLAN
John Keast and Laura Basham - The Press
13 August 2007
Hearings began in Timaru today to decide the fate of Meridian's $900 million North Bank hydro tunnel project and the big Hunter Downs irrigation scheme-each is expected to take up to five weeks. More>
REVISED TURBINE PLAN RELAUNCHED
Kathy Webb - The Dominion Post
07 August 2007
A landscape protection group is gearing up to fight a new application to build a wind farm nearly identical to one already rejected by the Environment Court. More>
LA REPUBLIQUE NUCLEAIRE
Paul Gorman - The Press
04 August 2007
Discussing 'going nuclear' in New Zealand may be tantamount to treason, but as Paul Gorman discovered, in France it is the primary source of power, and no small amount of pride. More>
CONTACT ENERGY SEEKS TE MIHI CONSENT
NZPA - Dominion Post
1 August 2007
Contact Energy has filed resource consent applications for its proposed Te Mihi geothermal power station north of Taupo. More>
CALL FOR RULES TO CURB LINE COMPANIES
James Weir - Dominion Post
25 July 2007
According to a report commissioned by lines company Powerco, power line companies should be regulated in an effort to create more certainty for investment. More>
TIME WILL TELL IF GREAT SOUTH BASIN FULFILS OILY PROMISE
Kent Atkinson - New Zealand Herald
17 July 2007
The Great South Basin oil exploration roulette wheel is spinning again - and this time the punters have sizeable bank rolls. More>
BILLION DOLLAR OIL AND GAS SEARCH GETS GO-AHEAD
NZPA
11 July 2007
International investors are preparing to spend more than a billion dollars exploring the Great South Basin now that the Government has announced the oil and gas exploration permits for four areas off the Southland coast. More>
TRANSPOWER PYLONS 'RISK BREAKDOWNS' UNDER FULL LOAD
Kent Atkinson - NZPA
06 July 2007
Transpower's controversial plan to build new lines of power pylons to supply a quarter of the nation's population risks widespread blackouts if it fails under high load, says an Electricity Commission member, engineer Graham Pinnell. More>
HYDRO PLAN COULD POWER CHRISTCHURCH
The Press
05 July 07
Meridian Energy's proposed North Bank tunnel hydro scheme could generate enough electricity to power Christchurch, but it might not be commissioned until 2016. More>
CONTROVERSIAL POWER LINE GETS GO-AHEAD
Martin Kay - The Dominion Post
05 July 07
The Electricity Commission has given the green light to a controversial $683 million project that will see a line of towering pylons run from Whakamaru in Waikato to Pakuranga in Auckland. More>
TRUSTPOWER, CONTACT ENERGY PROJECTS GET GREEN LIGHT
New Zealand Herald
23 June 2007
Resource consents have been granted to Contact Energy and Trustpower for small hydro electricity projects in the South Island. More>
GIANT PYLON POWER PROJECT MAY BE SPED UP
Simon O'Rourke - New Zealand Herald
22 June 2007
The Minister for the Environment is considering fast-tracking Transpower's proposal to build giant pylons from South Waikato to Auckland. More>
CONTROVERSIAL HYDRO SCHEME GETS FIRST TICK
NZPA - New Zealand Herald
22 June 2007
Tauranga-based electricity generator and retailer TrustPower has gained interim approval for its proposed hydro scheme in Marlborough's Wairau Valley. More>
BUSINESS SEEKS ASSURANCES CITY WON'T BLACK OUT
Scoop
20 June 2007
After two major regional power cuts within 24 hours and after a year since the costly Auckland power black-out, the commercial district that was worst affected last year wants assurances Auckland City won't black out. More>
TOP ELECTRICITY JOB VACANT SINCE NOVEMBER
The Press
20 June 2007
The Government has still not appointed a new Electricity Commission boss.
OTAGO WIND FARM COULD DOUBLE IN SIZE
NZPA
15 June 2007
The controversial Project Hayes wind farm in Otago could be almost twice as big as originally planned, according to a council planner.
OLIVER'S POWER STANCE QUERIED
Marta Steeman - The Press
14 June 2007
Anton Oliver is a great All Black, but not a good energy analyst, Meridian Energy chief executive Keith Turner says.
TUI OIL FIELD SET TO FLOW ON TIME
NZPA
13 June 2007
New Zealand's largest oil field, Tui, is on target to begin production at the end of the month as long as the weather behaves.
NUCLEAR POWER NOT LIKELY HERE: ENVIRONMENT COMMISSIONER
Mike Houlahan - New Zealand Herald
11 June 2007
Nuclear power is unlikely to form part of New Zealand's energy future, the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment believes. More>
LUMP THE COAL, WIND'S THE WAY TO GO
Evan Harding - The Southland Times
09 June 2007
Prime Minister Helen Clark put coal, as an energy source, on the back burner when she opened the White Hill Wind Farm in Northern Southland yesterday.
COMMUNITY GIVES UP FIGHT AGAINST WINDFARM
Newstalk ZB
07 June 2007
The Makara Guardians have decided not to appeal the Environment Court decision allowing Meridian Energy's massive wind farm on Wellington's west coast to go ahead. More>
NZ WINDFARMS SAYS $75M CAPITAL RAISING FULLY SUBSCRIBED
NZPA
06 June 2007
NZ Windfarms said today it had been successful in raising the $75m it was seeking through the issue of 68.2 million shares.
EXPERT TALKS BULLISHLY OF BILLION BARREL OIL FIELDS AROUND NZ
NZ Energy & Environment
06 June 2007
An oil exploration expert believes up to 10 billion barrels of oil could potentially be recovered around NZ during the next few decades, with the Great South Basin a particularly exciting prospect. More>
NZ WINDFARMS SHARE OFFER CLOSES FULLY SUBSCRIBED
Scoop
06 June 2007
NZ Windfarms Chairman, Derek Walker describes the interest shown in the NZ Windfarms offer as an endorsement of the NZ Windfarms strategy and an endorsement for the future of renewable energy in New Zealand. More>
ELECTRICITY RETAILER LINES UP TELCOS
Helen Twose - New Zealand Herald
02 June 2007
Electricity retailer TrustPower is likely to spark up the telecommunications market under a deal with telco Maxnet.
