NZRCA Forum: Conservation

what are the policies

DC — 2008-09-15T17:13:20+12:00

I started to do a search on policy as I decided that I would vote on the issue of who has the best energy policy and what is going to be best for the rivers..... somehow I don't like our chances of things getting any better as they all seem to be pushing hydro. There was a couple of good Q and A sessions on this issue one in the latest fish and game magazine and the other in the latest forest and bird mag. Interesting thing is the party policy does not word the same way they anwser the questions (surprise) But the questions were very good and interesting to read with some not so good news as far as hydro development is perceeved as a good way to go by most parties- here they are by party policy (the ones that are poling over 5%- NATIONAL GREENS LABOUR (no new policy since 2005) MAORI (no energy policy)

Re: Mokihinui river dam

chriss taylor — 2008-09-15T15:16:38+12:00

how about stopping the white bait fishing and save a native species it only seems to be done for money nowdays any way,and then they have the nerve to charge for a licence to catch trout an introdused pest speceis that feeds on our native fish,try and sell trout and see what happens. If you want people on your side do some thing positive . chriss taylor a real conservationist

Re: Mokihinui river dam

chriss taylor — 2008-09-15T15:15:40+12:00

Re: Another river under threat! MOTU RIVER

Alastair — 2008-09-13T14:32:51+12:00

There was a geothermal well drilled over at Kawarau last year that hit the goods. I have heard it said that she will run a 90odd megawatt station, but is only permited to supply 20% of that???? There are 2 rigs over there looking for the same thing at the moment, and may be there for the next 2 years?? This is clean, and renewable (if water is pumped back down to the Heat source to generate more steam as they do in Iceland) The technology exists, the capacity is being developed. But we are fighting the de-regulated generation industry, where it all comes down to corporate bottom lines rather than sensable usage of the generation capacity we already have. Re-regulation could see and end to "powercrises" caused by squandering reserve capacity to make money exploiting the spot price market. there is an election comming up. lets make some noise!!

Re: Another river under threat! MOTU RIVER

MarcusD — 2008-09-13T06:36:35+12:00

Are all the proposed dams a direct consequence of the current Governments mandate to have all electricity generation going forward from renewable resources sush as water, wind, thermal etc. I would say they are. So, perhaps everyone should be considering all the political parties energy policies very closely this election...

I didn't think Dams and Earthquake country went together?

Russell Frost — 2008-09-09T01:19:06+12:00

I wonder what the people of Murchison, the Buller Gorge and Westport would like to think of a great wall of water rushing at them next time the big one hits. Some scientist put the Murch EQ. of 1929 at 8.1 on the Richter scale. If Network Tasman are going to sell the scheme with the renewable energy green tag (at the expense of major environmental degradation and permanent modification (destruction!)), then the fear of big Wednesday might be some good counter propaganda. Even if a proposed Dam held, what is to stop all of the steep sided sedimentary mountainsides tumbling in and forcing all the water out? Who are these greedy people? Do they think they might swing it with the usual trade off of a few picnic benches, some lovely exotic plantings, a switch you can flick for a spot of kayaking once a day, possibly something built in the town for the community (oh and don't forget the brass plaque with the corrupt councillors name that approved and opened the scheme, mounted on one of those nice white Matakitaki conglomerate boulders at the entrance to the scheme). Better put a token gesture fish ladder somewhere too, I know, they could stock the dam with trout for those fishing guides that have used and appreciated the wilderness qualities of this river for the past 30 years or so too........everything will be perfect. How will they ensure the downward migration of long finned eels and keep the Tangata Whenua happy? I suppose they this all worked out too – another backhander?? Old school vandals with rose tinted spectacles, who should be very ashamed at their utter greed, lack of morals and pig headedness. Find some more dairy farms to convert or build another swimming pool in Richmond or something! Keep your hands off what doesn't belong to you!

What will we do when the last river has been dammed?

Wendy — 2008-09-06T13:31:13+12:00

I am not a kayaker but I live in the Matakitaki Valley. I fought for the Gowan and Wairau. The Matiri and Matakitaki are next unfortunately. I believe our society needs to stop our rampant consumerism and criminal power wastage, and to think about the true cost of the way we live. www.wrap.org.nz is a portal to an online petition to Parliament that sums it all up for me. I am not involved in WRAP, but this issue is very close to my heart. What will we do when the last river has been dammed?

Re: Another river under threat! MOTU RIVER

Joe — 2008-09-05T10:39:00+12:00

I think this country will keep damming rivers until the people of this country realise that they don't need to use as much electricity as they do, or until alternative power generation is acquired. As a group, recreational river users don't hold much weight against the electricity usage habits of a nation. So for us to stand up and say "save the Motu (this river name can be replaced with a multitude of rivers under threat of course) for the recreational kayaker!" is kind of like trying to tackle Jonah Lomu (the 1995 version) around the chest. To take the issue out at the legs we need to adopt and promote power saving initiatives, so the need for hydro power no longer exists. Check out . It's a black background google search engine that has the potential to save an estimated $75,000 of electricity worldwide a day, simply because it has a black background instead of white. You may have already heard of or seen it or you may even have it as your homepage! This is not meant to take away the power of the recreational river users because in the same way that a small group can and does make a difference in reducing electricity usage over a nation, as a small group with huge interest in the use of rivers we can make a difference. We all know that the google search engine 'blackle' isn't going to stop the damming of our rivers, but it is an example of a small step we can all take next time we are searching out out the specs of our brand new plastic creeker...

Re: Another river under threat! MOTU RIVER

Ryan — 2008-09-05T09:20:01+12:00

@!#$ hell, how long will it be till this country is left with no free flowing rivers?????

Another river under threat! MOTU RIVER

Donald — 2008-09-04T10:58:25+12:00

East Coast hydro dam proposed NZPA | Wednesday, 27 August 2008 Damming the Motu River to generate income for Maori and improve the East Coast's electricity supply is under consideration. Opotiki District Council's coast community board has discussed lifting the 1984 conservation order preventing the river's use for electricity generation. It also hosted a presentation by acting Horizon Energy chief executive Don Lewell on the Motu's generation potential at a July 21 power generation workshop. Mr Lewell was invited to address the meeting by council engineering and services manager Jim Finlay. Mr Finlay said the presentation grew out of an earlier meeting held to find ways to reduce the frequency of power outages, which plague coast electricity consumers. Generating electricity from dams on the nearby Motu River was proposed as a possible solution. This option was attractive because, through investment, Te Kaha-based iwi Te Whanau-a-Apanui was a potential beneficiary. Coast community board chairman Haki McRoberts said the Raukokore River was another that offered generation potential. Building hydro schemes on either river would be "horrifically" expensive, but would be sure to solve the coast's power problems and provide an income to Te Whanau-a-Apanui through electricity sales to the national grid. He said power outages were a real problem for coast residents. "We're just getting sick of it," he said. He said harnessing the Motu's potential was an option that would be explored with coast-dwelling hapu and iwi. However, talks were at an early stage. He acknowledged the river's status as a wilderness area but said damming it could generate additional boating- and fishing-related tourism benefits. An assessment of Bay of Plenty hydro-electric possibilities, completed by consultants Sinclair Knight Mertz for Environment Bay of Plenty in 2007, said past studies indicated 290 megawatts (MW) of electricity generation would be possible from four dams on the Motu. This could be augmented by diverting flow from the Takaputahi River to the Motu River. Studies have also identified 45MW of capacity from three schemes on the Raukokore River. At 9am yesterday, Transpower was transmitting 5800MW of electricity to cope with the country's demand for power. The Motu's national water conservation order was granted under section 20D of the Water and Soil Conservation Act 1967. Orders made since 1991 to other rivers have been granted under section 214 of the Resource Management Act 1991. The order requires that the river should be preserved in its natural state and instructs that no right shall be granted to dam for hydro-electric purposes. Mr Lewell said Horizon Energy, which owns the Eastern Bay's power lines, would like to be involved in any hydro-electric development of the Motu River. Damming it and transmitting electricity generated to the national grid would "cost billions", but he could see the financial benefit that might accrue to Maori and the improved security of supply to coast electricity consumers.