Media Advisory
27 May 2009
Draft decision on Transpowerproposal now available
The Board of Inquiry has today released its draft decision and report on Transpower’s proposal to upgrade the upper
North Island electricity transmission grid.
The draft report has been sent to Transpower, the nine affected councils, all 1244 submitters and the Minister for the
Environment. They have until 5 pm on Wednesday, 24 June 2009 to consider the draft report and to send any comments on it
to the Board. The Board will consider their comments, make its final decision and produce a final report.
The draft report is available online on the Board of Inquiry webpages:
Note: By the Resource Management Act call-in process, only the applicant, the affected councils, the 1244 submitters and
the Minister for the Environment are invited to comment on the draft report and decision.
What: Draft decision and report released
When: 27 May 2009
The Board of Inquiry will not be commenting on the draft report.
For more information see the Board of Inquiry webpages: www.mfe.govtnz/rma/call-in-transpower/board-of-inquiry/
Background information for editors:
The Board is chaired by Judge David Sheppard, a former Principal
Environment Judge. The other Board members are Kevin Prime, Dr Deborah Read and John Rutherford.
Transpower is proposing to build a new overhead electricity transmission line, underground cables and substations
between Whakamaru and Otahuhu and Pakuranga in the upper North Island. The hearing for the proposal began in March 2008
and continued over 72 days in Hamilton, Takanini and Tokoroa. During the hearing Transpower and submitters presented
legal submissions, witnesses presented evidence, and were cross-examined. A total of 152 submitters came to the hearing
to present their submissions. The Board also visited sites along the entire length of the proposed route.
The Board of Inquiry was appointed after a Ministerial call-in of Transpower's proposal on 8 August 2007.
The call-in process to be followed by a Board of Inquiry is set out in the Resource Management Act.
ENDS