4. PESETA SAM LOTU-IIGA (National—Maungakiekie) Link to this
to the Minister of Energy and Resources
What progress has been made in upgrading New Zealand’s national grid?
Hon GERRY BROWNLEE (Minister of Energy and Resources) Link to this
Today the Prime Minister opened a second substation at Ōtāhuhu. This marks the completion of Transpower’s Ōtāhuhu substation diversity project. A third of New Zealand’s power supply, and nearly all of Auckland and Northland’s power, is currently supplied through the Ōtāhuhu site. This $100 million project will provide greater diversity of power supply to the Auckland and Northland regions. It is a significant piece of infrastructure.
Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga Link to this
What other projects are under way that will reinforce supply into Auckland?
Hon GERRY BROWNLEE Link to this
Reliable electricity infrastructure is very important to New Zealand’s largest city. There are a number of other projects under way, such as the underground cable circuit between Pakuranga and Albany, and the new line into Pakuranga from the south. Transpower will spend around $1.7 billion in total on transmission projects to reinforce its network into and across Auckland. It is a significant infrastructure spend.
Charles ChauvelGiven that Transpower spent over $1 million last year on overseas travel for its staff and contractors, and given its decision to spend over a quarter of a million dollars this year on its own—
Mr SPEAKERI have just pointed out that members are not meant to insert statements, claims, or assertions into questions. I do not insist on members starting a question with a question word necessarily, the way previous Speakers have, but to keep a list of “givens” going is simply a bit beyond the pale. I invite Charles Chauvel to reword his question.
Can taxpayers be satisfied that the decision to offer Transpower dividend relief has been accompanied by an appropriately strict oversight by him of Transpower’s planning and spending processes, in light of Transpower spending $1 million last year on travel for staff and contractors, its spending over a quarter of a million dollars this year on its own fibre-based internal phone network, and its lack of any plan to incorporate smart grid technology into its $3 billion upgrade?