30 November 2004
Meridian Energy welcomes High Court decision
State-owned power generator and retailer Meridian Energy has welcomed today's decision from the High Court on the status
of its water rights in the Upper Waitaki. Chief Executive Keith Turner says the decision is an unequivocal endorsement
of Meridian¹s existing rights to use the water for hydro generation.
Not only is this decision positive for Meridian in the Upper Waitaki, it is also extremely positive for every other
holder of a water right anywhere in New Zealand. It makes it absolutely clear that they are able to rely upon the rights
conferred by their resource consents.
Dr Turner says the decision is also very important for the environment, as it ensures that a water resource cannot be
over-allocated. The High Court action which was heard in Timaru in September, was brought by the Aoraki Water Trust,
which was seeking to divert a significant volume of water from Lake Tekapo into South Canterbury for irrigation
purposes.
Meridian had opposed the move, saying that it would reduce the volume of electricity able to be generated by the chain
of hydro stations on the Upper Waitaki which use the water eight times over, and at a time when the electricity system
is fully stretched to meet New Zealand¹s needs.
Any such loss of water was estimated to cost more than $100 million, and would have represented a major reduction in the
value of the investment that every New Zealander has in Meridian Energy. Dr Turner says Meridian understands the
importance of irrigation to South Canterbury, and the company is keen to explore other ways of making it happen.
We have done a lot of work on water harvesting alternatives and have discussed the options in the past with AWT. We want
to renew the dialogue, so that we can work together in meeting the community¹s objectives.
Dr Turner says Meridian was instrumental in bringing to reality a major new irrigation scheme in North Otago that will
bring water to 10,000 hectares and may extend to 20,000 hectares.
ENDS