5. METIRIA TUREI (Green) Link to this
to the Minister of Conservation
Does the Department of Conservation plan to submit on the resource consent applications for Meridian Energy Ltd’s Mōkihinui hydro proposal; if so, will the department be advocating for the protection of the river?
Hon STEVE CHADWICK (Minister of Conservation) Link to this
Yes; and yes, it will be, because the Conservation Act provides a statutory role for the department to advocate for conservation, heritage, and historical values.
Is the Minister concerned that Meridian has suppressed a report that it commissioned from Landcare Research, entitled Calculating Biodiversity Offsets for the Mokihinui Hydro Proposal, which basically states that there is no way that Meridian can mitigate the destructive effects of the dam on the river, the biodiversity loss, and the elimination of native species?
Hon STEVE CHADWICK Link to this
I am aware of the reports that Meridian commissioned, and that it did commission that research. However, I have not seen that research, so it is inappropriate for me to comment, at this stage.
Hon Marian HobbsHave there been other hydro schemes where agreement was able to be reached to protect the important values of the rivers, while allowing hydro generation to continue?
Hon STEVE CHADWICK Link to this
Yes, there have been. It is not always possible to reconcile conflicting generation and conservation values. Where feasible, though, the department works with energy companies to agree on the conditions for resource consents that protect the river values, while allowing significant renewable energy generation. One example is the Dobson hydro scheme on the Arnold River.
Now that the Minister is aware of Meridian’s secret report that it has refused to distribute, despite being asked, will she be urging the Minister for the Environment to use his powers under the Resource Management Act to call in the resource consent applications, because this is a biodiversity issue of national interest—that all New Zealanders should be able to enjoy the unique wildness and intrinsic values of this river—and perhaps even be urging him to experience the river through rafting or other trips, as I did last week?
Hon STEVE CHADWICK Link to this
That is a matter that falls within the responsibility of the Minister for the Environment.
Now that the Minister is aware of this secret report that shows there is no mitigation for the damage that this dam will do, I ask again whether she will assure this House that she will use her powers to refuse Meridian Energy’s application for Department of Conservation concessions to fell large swathes of native podocarp forest and drown an area of 330 hectares of conservation land—one of the largest attacks on native forest on conservation land since her Government ended native forest logging, with the Greens help, in 1999?
Hon STEVE CHADWICK Link to this
I believe at this stage—with only a concession lodged—it is far too early for me to give my opinion.
Does the Minister agree that the protected wilderness rivers are not renewable, that species in decline are not recoverable, as her Government continues to destroy their habitat, and that New Zealanders who appreciate the outdoors and our unique native species—
Rt Hon Winston Peters—even ones like that member—will not accept large hydro dams like that proposed on the Mōkihinui River?
Hon STEVE CHADWICK Link to this
I agree that the Mōkihinui is a river gorge ecosystem of regional and national importance. The department is preparing an assessment of the specific values and the impact of that river.
I seek leave to table the report that Meridian Energy has actively suppressed and refused to distribute.