Media Release: 27 April 2009

WELLINGTON’S CHOICE!
Capital city tops poll of favourite places to live

New research shows Wellington is the best place to live in New Zealand – according to those who live there, that is.

The survey shows that a whopping 88.6% of Wellingtonians believe their hometown is the best place to live in New Zealand. Other preferred destinations cited by respondents include Christchurch (2%), Hawke’s Bay (1.5%) and Queenstown (1%).

Meridian Energy, New Zealand’s renewable energy generator and retailer, commissioned a survey of 200 Wellington residents to find out their favourite things about the capital as part of its ‘Wellington’s Choice’ campaign. The campaign celebrates the fact Wellington is a ‘choice’ place to live and marks First Power at Meridian’s West Wind wind farm on 29 April this week.

The survey also asked Wellingtonians to nominate their favourite things about Wellington. 25.7% of those polled said their favourite aspect of living in Wellington is the great range of bars and restaurants, followed by arts and culture (23.3%), and the great outdoors (21.8%).

Somewhat unsurprisingly, 53.5% said their least favourite aspect of living in Wellington is the weather - and in particular the wind. This is followed by traffic (14.4%), crime (10.9%) and ‘too many politicians’ (9.4%).

Meridian spokeswoman Claire Shaw said: “We know Wellington is a choice place to live; after all, we’re based here too.

“We’re putting the famous Wellington wind to great use with Project West Wind, our new wind farm on Terawhiti Station and Makara Farm west of Wellington,” Claire said.

“As a 100 renewable electricity producer it’s extra special for us to be bringing power to the capital. First power is Wednesday (29th April) this week, and the project is on line for completion December this year – yet another reason why Wellington’s Choice. There must be very few capital cities in the world that have their own wind farm on their doorstep!”

Topping the poll for Wellingtonians’ favourite Wellingtonians are Peter Jackson and comedy duo, Flight of the Conchords – both scoring 31.2%. Wellington residents also nominated Fat Freddys Drop as their favourite local band (22.3%), and the Hurricanes as their favourite local sports team (62.9%). Their favourite leisure activity is going to a park or to the beach (33.7%).

Wellington’s Choice
The Wellington’s Choice campaign celebrates the fact Wellington is an awesome place to live and marks First Power at the capital’s first wind farm, Project West Wind.

As part of the campaign, Meridian will provide a free treat for Wellington commuters who choose sustainable transport with a free concert by Wellington singer/songwriter Iva Lamkum at the Wellington Train Station from 4.30pm until 6.30pm on Wednesday 29 April. Iva’s rich tone gives her a truly unique sound that makes you want to sit up and take notice. Iva comes from a soul and jazz background with a touch of underground hip hop, but she prefers to call her style "street soul”.

Key survey findings
The Wellington’s Choice survey was carried out by NZ research company Perspective and quizzed 200 Wellington residents – 50% male, 50% female, with ages ranging between 15-80 years old.

* 88.6% of those polled believe Wellington is the best place to live in New Zealand.
* 25.7% said their favourite aspect of living in Wellington is the range of bars and restaurants. 23.3% said arts and culture, and 21.8% said the great outdoors.
* 53.5% said their least favourite aspect of living in Wellington is the weather / the wind, followed by traffic (14.4%), crime (10.9%) and ‘too many politicians’ (9.4%)
* Wellingtonians’ favourite leisure activity is going to a beach or a park, with 33.7% of the vote. Drinking coffee and watching sports follow, with 14.9% and 11.9% respectively.
* Wellingtonians’ favourite Wellingtonians are Peter Jackson and Flight of the Conchords – both scoring 31.2%. Brooke Fraser and Kerry Prendergast followed with 5% each.
* 62.9% of Wellingtonians quizzed said that the Hurricanes are their favourite local sports team. This is followed by the Phoenix on 14.4% and ‘no favourite team’ on 11.9%.
* Fat Freddys Drop (22.3%) narrowly edge out Shihad (18.3%) and Black Seeds (16.3%) for Wellingtonians’ favourite local band.

About Meridian Energy
Meridian is a 100 per cent renewables generator and nationwide retailer of electricity.

Meridian began in April 1999 (following the split of ECNZ into generating, transmission and retail components). As a State-Owned Enterprise it operates as a commercial entity in a de-regulated market. Meridian is ultimately owned by all New Zealanders.

Sustainability is at the core of Meridian’s business and it considers social, economic and environmental impacts when making decisions.

Meridian generates electricity using only renewable energy sources and is committed to becoming a carbon neutral company. Since February 2006, Meridian’s electricity has been a certified carboNZeroCert TM product.
Meridian is New Zealand’s largest electricity generator and currently owns and operates nine hydro stations and two wind farms within New Zealand:
· Manapouri power station and eight hydro stations on the Waitaki River in the South Island
· Te Apiti wind farm near Palmerston North
· White Hill wind farm in Southland.
· West Wind near Wellington will be completed by December 2009.
Meridian puts significant investment into new renewable energy sources from Wellington’s first wind farm West Wind, through to our most southern wind farm Ross Island (Antarctica).
Meridian retails electricity to around 188,000 customers throughout New Zealand, which includes households, farms and businesses. It also provides electricity to Rio Tinto Alcan New Zealand Limited (formally Comalco New Zealand Limited) an aluminium smelter, in Bluff, which is New Zealand’s single largest electricity user.
Meridian is committed to improving the lives of New Zealanders through its investments in a number of business units and subsidiaries such as Arc Innovations, Right House, DamWatch Services, EFI and Whisper Tech.
Through its sponsorship and community funding, Meridian supports the development of projects and activities that provide real benefits to New Zealand. Meridian’s support varies widely, from local kids’ events to The Royal New Zealand Ballet, Project Crimson through to grassroots rugby.

Wellingtonians can also choose from a range of great offers when they switch their electricity to Meridian.
See
www.meridian.co.nz
or call 0800 496 496 for more information.

ENDS

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