Meridian Welcomes Draft Decision to Ease Lake Pūkaki Hydro Storage Access
Meridian Energy says it welcomes the Fast-Track Panel's draft decision proposing the easing of access restrictions on Lake Pūkaki hydro storage for a three-year period.
Apparently the iwi groups extracted some serious koha from both the energy companies in compensation for the historical loss of – among other things – rock art drawings and mahinga kai spots (fish gathering) when the river was dammed back in the 1930s to set up hydro power.
All well and good, but no one will reveal just exactly how much was paid – rumoured to be well in the multi-millions.
Of course, the heavy price coughed up won’t worry the electricity generators, they will just pass the cost on to hard-pressed power consumers.
The question is how much is the Treaty costing us in electricity prices?
