Media Release 29 May 2001
TV One and Meridian search for weather predictors
When the cabbage leaves curl, expect rain, but when the Pohutukawa flowers early, expect a long hot summer.
Everyday, New Zealanders use hundreds of methods to predict the weather – some more scientific than others, some less
reliable than others, and TV One and Meridian Energy have launched a nationwide search for them. Those with the right
stuff will have their prediction method featured on the One Weather Update at 8:10pm every night from 14 June.
Meridian Director of Power Marketing, Ray Aspey, said that the search for “weather diviners” had come about as a
celebration of how Meridian generates electricity.
Meridian, the country’s largest generator, generates electricity entirely from natural sources – water and wind.
“Our business is based on bad weather. When it blows and when it rains, we are using the resulting water and wind to
make the power that keeps us warm and dry,” Mr Aspey said.
“While we do rely mostly on weather forecasts from meteorologists, we don’t discard traditional methods. For example,
the more enlightened of us here at Meridian were expecting this year’s South Island drought because the cabbage trees
flowered early,” he said.
General Manager of TV One, Shaun Brown, said he was delighted to have Meridian Energy join the One Weather Update.
“Meridian Energy is an ideal partner for the One Weather Update – the weather is a big part of their business. We’re
looking forward to seeing the weather predictors every night, we hope they will be at the heart of a long and successful
relationship.”
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Anyone with a sure-fire, and unusual, weather prediction method should send a written description to “Weather, Meridian
Energy, PO Box 969, Christchurch” or e-mail weather@meridianenergy.co.nz.
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Send a description of your weather divining technique to:
Weather
Meridian Energy
PO Box 969
Christchurch