Energy Issues
Parched power firms dip into storage lakes
The Southland Times
13 January 2012
13 January 2012
Power generators are being forced to scale back generation in Southland and Fiordland and dip into drought-stricken storage lakes to boost hydro supplies.More>
Mt Cass Windfarm
Hurunui District Council
13 December 2011
13 December 2011
The Environment Court has released its decision on the Mainpower proposal to establish and operate a wind farm at Mt Cass Waipara. The initial application was declined by the Hurunui District Council appointed commissioners.More>
Solid Energy seeks extension to coal gas exploration permit
Waikato Times
8 December 2011
8 December 2011
Solid Energy is extending its coal seam gas investigations in the countryside west of Huntly with the aim of setting up a commercially viable operation.More>
NZ rivers closer to 'crisis point'
Taranaki Daily News
6 December 2011
6 December 2011
New Zealand's inadequately protected rivers are being pushed towards crisis point by economic development, a report to Conservation Minister Kate Wilkinson says.More>
Genesis tells court that price cap could stifle investment
The Marlborough Express
30 November 2011
30 November 2011
A cap on electricity prices imposed by the energy regulator overturned established policy, creating "regulatory overhang" which could stifle investment, lawyers for state-owned Genesis claim.More>
Tainui could head queue for Mighty River shares
Manawatu Standard
29 November 2011
29 November 2011
Mighty River Power chairwoman Joan Withers says the state-owned enterprise is well equipped to deal with a likely partial float of its shares but there is still a lot of water to go under the bridge.More>
Opponents give up turbines battle
The Marlborough Express
21 November 2011
21 November 2011
A proposed wind farm at Dominion Salt's Lake Grassmere site has been given the green light by Marlborough District Council.
The sole opponents, Cyril and Vanessa Schonberger, won't appeal against the decision, which will allow the company to build five turbines with a maximum hub height of 50 metreMore>
Mighty River signs up to new geothermal project
Radio New Zealand
8 November 2011
8 November 2011
State-owned electricity generator Mighty River Power has signed agreements for a new geothermal energy project near Rotorua.More>
Hydro plan suffers blow
The Marlborough Express
13 October 2011
13 October 2011
TrustPower's bid to build a $280 million hydro-electric scheme in Wairau Valley was dealt a blow by Marlborough District councillors yesterday, although the company says the project will...More>
Energy firms move on wind farm plans
Wairarapa Times Age
12 October 2011
12 October 2011
Potential Wairarapa wind farms have met strong opposition from the public, but energy companies are determined to make use of the windy weather. Genesis Energy recently lodged a resource consent to build a 30,000 hectare wind farm at Castle Hill in North Wairarapa and Meridian Energy is...More>
Petrol stations, power companies not competitive
3 News
12 October 2011
12 October 2011
Petrol stations and power companies are perceived as the least competitive providers of utility-type services, according to a survey. Research for the newly formed Electricity Authority (EA) finds major electricity users and consumer advocates are more sceptical than residential customers, with only "28...More>
NZ petrol, power companies least competitive, customers say
New Zealand Herald
12 October 2011
12 October 2011
Expand Petrol stations and power companies are perceived as the least competitive providers of utility-type services, with both residential and business customers giving much higher ratings for competition between phone companies and...More>
Genesis planning massive windfarm
New Zealand Herald
30 August 2011
30 August 2011
Expand Genesis Energy has applied for resource consents to build a wind farm with up to 286 turbines in northern Wairarapa. The Castle Hill project would have a potential nominal capacity of up to 860 megawatts of electricity, equivalent to the amount used by 370,000 average households, Genesis...More>
Safety is priority for site manager
The Timaru Herald
24 August 2011
24 August 2011
Alan Bulling has gone from pole to pole in ensuring electricity flows between the North and South Islands. Mr Bulling was the site manager for the high voltage direct current (HVDC) Pole 2 project in 1989 until it was commissioned in 1992 now, 19 years on, he is back for round...More>
Raglan wind farm wins top award
Waikato Times
18 August 2011
18 August 2011
Te Uku wind farm near Raglan's wild and windswept coast has secured a premier environmental award. The joint Meridian Energy-WEL Networks project was recognised at the Deloitte Energy Excellence Awards on Wednesday, taking out the environmental excellence...More>
Wellington very close to complete power cut
Radio New Zealand
15 August 2011
15 August 2011
Transpower says Wellington was very close to a complete powercut on Monday...More>
Vector objects to proposed price cut
Radio New Zealand
19 July 2011
19 July 2011
Lines company Vector has criticised proposals by the Commerce Commission that would require it to reduce average prices, saying the cut is unjustified and threatens investment in the...More>
Lloyd expects $2b Christchurch claim
Star Canterbury
18 July 2011
18 July 2011
Christchurch earthquake claims against global insurer Lloyd's will amount to about $2 billion, says the firm's chairman, Peter Levene, Baron Levene of...More>
Lloyd expects $2b Christchurch claim
New Zealand Herald
18 July 2011
18 July 2011
Expand Christchurch earthquake claims against global insurer Lloyd's will amount to about $2 billion, says the firm's chairman, Peter Levene, Baron Levene of...More>
Renewable energy reaches 12-year peak
New Zealand Herald
13 July 2011
13 July 2011
Expand Renewable electricity generation reached a 12-year peak last year, with 74 per cent of all power coming from renewable resources. The figures were released today in the Ministry of Economic Development's annual Energy Data File, which details energy prices, reserves, supply, transmission and..More>
Meridian Wind Farm Proposal Heading to the Environment Court
Hurunui District Council
16 June 2011
16 June 2011
The courts will determine the fate of a proposed wind farm near Greta Valley in North Canterbury that has polarised the local community. In front of a large gallery of interested members of the public the Hurunui District Council and Canterbury Regional Council today agreed to a request by Meridian...More>
More Christchurch aftershocks, more to come
Star Canterbury
15 June 2011
15 June 2011
The chance of another large aftershock in Canterbury has increased following Monday's tremors, GNS Science says. The agency estimates there is a 30 per cent chance of an earthquake between magnitude 6 and...More>
Costs of wind energy falling, say advocates
New Zealand Herald
12 June 2011
12 June 2011
Expand Backers of wind energy say costs are falling compared with competing technologies such as geothermal generation because of decreasing equipment...More>
Taupo plant for Mighty River Power
Waikato Times
8 June 2011
8 June 2011
New Zealand's growing reliance on geothermal steam to generate electricity will go up another notch in mid-2013. State-owned Mighty River Power has announced a new 82-megawatt plant to be built at Ngatamariki, north of...More>