Railway Station Meridian Ad Campaign Wasteful
“State power producer and retailer, Meridian huge advertisement on the former Christchurch Railway Station Clock tower
is a gigantic waste of money when the SOE should instead be offering power at the cheapest rate,” said Andrew McKenzie,
Alliance Public Sector Spokesperson.
“The ad, part of a million dollar campaign, shows Lake Pukaki running up to Mount Cook and simply says ‘your power
generator’,” said Andrew McKenzie. New Zealanders do not need very expensive reminders that they previously paid for the
Waitaki River hydro scheme via taxes.”
Mr. McKenzie said that Meridian customers had approached the Alliance demanding that the State power company take the ad
down and reduce their power bills. “People who are poor and cold don’t appreciate seeing the ad - particularly after
three years of 305 to 40% power price rises.
“The Alliance (along with other groups like the Consumers Institute) sees this ad as further evidence of the abuse of
market power by Meridian Energy along with other big state and private firms,” said Andrew McKenzie.
“It is time for the Government to step in and take back the power – both ownership and responsibility - from the
electricity utilities in the country,” said Andrew McKenzie.