Sadly before it released the document it turned it into a pdf file but didn’t remove the Microsoft Word tracked changes first. Which lead to this rather embarrassing faux pas / hÄ“, where the document confuses French and Maori:

(click on the image for a larger version)

This hydro dam will require Meridian to flood the Mokihinui Gorge, which is home to endangered bats, kiwi, snails, kaka and whio. It will also prevent many fish from swimming out to sea to breed. 12 of those fish species are natives, and four of them are endangered. And, of particular interest to Metiria and Russel are the long fin eels.

Long fin eels live for about 100 years if they are allowed. They swim all the way from their river in New Zealand to deep sea trenches off the coast in Tonga where they breed. The children then make their way slowly back to the same river from where their parents came.

The Ministry of Fisheries has no available estimates of the current biomass of long fin eels. It says

[T]here are no stock assessments, or reliable data or time series on which to base specific recommendations on catch levels.

Given the biology of eels, there is a high risk that the current exploitation levels for longfin eels in particular, coupled with past and present anthropogenic impacts, are not sustainable.

The West Coast Regional Council has given notice that it is considering resource consent for this dam and is accepting public submissions until April 23.

Forest and Bird opposes the dam and points out that the Department of Conservation rates the Mokihinui River as the seventh most important river in New Zealand because of its natural heritage values.

You can join Forest and Bird’s campaign to oppose the dam and find a great deal of resources on how to make a simple submission to the Regional Council opposing the dam on their website.