hydro Archive

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  Rafting the majestic Mokihinui - by Russel Norman

  
  
  
  Over 100 of us rafted and kayaked down the Mokihinui River on Sunday. The Mok is a fantastic wild West Coast river, a river full of life which makes its way through some of the last of our great lowland forest. Meridian Energy wants to dam and destroy the Mokihinui and drown the surrounding forest, [...] read more
  October 27, 2010 3:59 pm - 9 Comments
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  Gollum saves a wild river - by frog

  
  
  
  A tiny freshwater fish called Gollum has proved instrumental is saving one of our last remaining wild rivers from the threat of a hydro dam. A special tribunal has agreed to a variation on the Kawarau Water Conservation Order that would prohibit the damming of the Nevis river , a tributary of the Kawarau.  The [...] read more
  August 25, 2010 4:11 pm - 5 Comments
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  Bluerush – coming hydro or not - by frog

  
  
  
  Last week, Eloise Gibson in the Herald wrote about the sometimes tough choice between renewable generation and other environmental concerns; and on the same day The Press editorial made a strong call on the matter – that “Unique landscapes should always come first ahead of desires for more electricity. If we have to turn off [...] read more
  April 21, 2009 1:51 pm - 106 Comments
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  Greens support Buller District hydro - by frog

  
  
  
  It’s a bit lazy, but Kevin Hague’s press release says all I want to say! The Green Party’s West Coast-based MP Kevin Hague today lodged a submission in support of a proposed hydro scheme on the Stockton Plateau. Hydro Developments Ltd has applied for consent to divert water contaminated by mining from the Stockton area [...] read more
  January 30, 2009 2:42 pm - 16 Comments
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  The writing’s on the dam wall - by Metiria Turei

  
  
  
  With consents granted to the Arnold hydro scheme (45MW), and now a new proposal for a dam on coal-mining land on the Stockton plateau (25MW), the primary rationale for Meridian’s Mokihinui Hydro Proposal (MHP) has been removed. Meridian’s proposed MHP cites these benefits: The Mokihinui Hydro Proposal would: produce between 310 and 360 gigawatt hours [...] read more
  December 1, 2008 3:22 pm - 58 Comments
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  Micro vs macro - by frog

  
  
  
  Treehugger covers this story in the Guardian about the potential value of micro generation. British buildings equipped with solar, wind and other micro power equipment could generate as much electricity in a year as five nuclear power stations, a government-backed industry report showed today. In New Zealand the trade-off is not so much between investing [...] read more
  June 10, 2008 10:48 am - 31 Comments
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  The Latest from the Mokihinui River - by frog

  
  
  
  The folks at Forest and Bird have put together a lovely video of a rafting trip down the Mokihinui River. I commend them and their efforts to save the Mokihinui from destruction. Should we damn the river and its environs by building a dam? Is building hydro power a reversible decision? I think everyone knows [...] read more
  May 16, 2008 4:40 pm - 27 Comments
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  Winter power – let the market manage it - by frog

  
  
  
  Transpower has just released a public statement of concern over the lake levels and their ability to cope over winter. As I have stated in many a prior post, the end of April is when you look at these things, (not February, Gerry), as well as look at prudent ways to manage any risk. It [...] read more
  May 1, 2008 11:05 am - 15 Comments
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  PQ: Mokihinui River Hydro Plan - by frog

  
  
  
  Green MP Metiria Turei questions the Minister of Conservation, the Hon Steve Chadwick, as to whether she will oppose the consent application from Meridian energy to damn New Zealand’s seventh most important river ecosystem. (Yes, that was a pun.) Meridian’s own secret impact report, which damns the project as destructive of irreplaceable biodiversity, was tabled [...] read more
  April 16, 2008 7:17 pm - 62 Comments
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  Meridian’s secret Mokihinui report - by frog

  
  
  
  Minister Steve Chadwick said in response to Metiria’s question in Parliament this afternoon that the Department of Conservation will be making a submission in on Meridian Energy’s proposal to build a hydro dam on the Mokihinui River and it will be advocating for the protection of the river. Metiria then asked her about Meridian’s suppressed [...] read more
  April 15, 2008 5:49 pm - 1 Comment