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EDS Welcomes Decision to Drop the Mokihinu Hydro Project
EDS Welcomes Meridian Energy's Decision to Drop the Mokihinui Hydro Project
The Environmental Defence Society has congratulated Meridian Energy on dropping its proposed hydro generation project on the Mokihinui River in Westland.
"The Mokihinui River is an outstanding example of a wild and scenic river largely untouched by human presence," said EDS Chairman Gary Taylor.
"It traverses large tracts of the Department of Conservation's estate and would have required both resource consents under the Resource Management Act and access rights under the Conservation Act.
"Meridian management appear to have made the pragmatic decision that it would have difficulty getting those approvals.
"Technically, we think that's the right call. Meridian was always pushing uphill with that project given the outstanding values of the free-flowing river.
"But more importantly, we ponder whether there would have been some discomfort within the company about the whole idea of modifying the Mokihinui at all.
"Certainly public sentiment was strongly opposed to the development. There is a sense that we have damned so many of our rivers that the few free-flowing ones that are left should be preserved in their natural state. The flora and fauna values of this particular river are very high which added further strength to the opposition.
"We would like to congratulate our sister ENGO, Forest & Bird, and its advocacy and litigation staff, who ran a very effective and principled campaign.
"It's a great day for them and for all those who support protection of our remaining wild rivers," Mr Taylor concluded.
ENDS
Environmental Defence Society
EDS speaks for the environment. It has influence.
Since 1971, EDS has been driving environmental protection in Aotearoa New Zealand
through law and policy change. That's why it's one of this country's most influential non-
profit organisations when it comes to achieving better environmental outcomes.
EDS has expertise in key disciplines including law, planning, landscape and science. It
operates as a policy think-tank, a litigation advocate, and a collaborator – bringing together
the private and public sectors for constructive engagement.
EDS runs conferences and seminars on topical issues, including an annual Environmental
Summit and the Climate Change and Business Conference.
EDS is a registered charity and donations to it are tax-deductible.
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