Latest news with #GuardiansofLakesManapouri
Otago Daily Times
4 days ago
- Politics
- Otago Daily Times
Guardians approve lake drawdown changes
Approved changes to operating guidelines for hydro-electricity generation at Lake Manapouri will not cause unnatural variations of lake levels, the Guardians of Lakes Manapouri, Monowai and Te Anau say. Fears have been raised that using too much water when lake levels are low could cause permanent damage to the lake's shoreline. However, Guardians chairman Darryl Sycamore said the approved changes to the "drawdown rate" only applied to the upper range of low lake levels. Critically, the changes the Guardians had approved mimicked drops in lake levels previously observed in the natural record. "The Guardians have considered a range of proposals from Meridian Energy and have agreed to some amendments which mimic variations in the natural record of lake level prior to the establishment of the Manapouri hydro-scheme," Mr Sycamore said. "These amendments will enable additional energy generation and provide resilience of our electricity network." The Guardians were mandated in the Conservation Act to have particular regard to the effects of the operation of the hydro scheme on social, conservation, recreation and tourism values, he said. "We have carefully considered the proposed amendments on the values prescribed in the Act and have only provided our support to those which will likely result in less than minor effects," he said. If further changes were sought, unless Meridian could provide robust scientific reasoning to adopt the changes, they would not have the Guardians' support. Lake Manapōuri and Lake Te Anau had "given enough to NZ Inc" and any additional energy would have to be produced elsewhere, he said. Energy Minister Simon Watts heralded the changes as a "boost" to New Zealand's hydro generation and energy security. They would allow an extra 45GWh of energy to be produced by the Manapōuri Power Scheme each year — enough energy to power about 6000 homes, Mr Watts said. "Last winter, New Zealand faced an energy shortage that led to significant price increases for consumers, in part due to low hydro lake levels," he said. "This government will not accept a repeat of last winter and is working at pace to ensure we have a reliable and affordable energy supply. "Lake Manapōuri and Lake Te Anau are not only environmentally and culturally significant, but they are also essential to New Zealand's energy system." The changes balanced the needs of New Zealand's electricity system with the environmental impact on the lakes and their surrounding areas, he said. Emeritus Professor Sir Alan Mark, of Dunedin, the first chairman of the Guardians, said changes to the low operating range risked damage to shorelines, or the loss of beaches that had taken "eons" to develop. "They're not going to be replaced if they're lost," Sir Alan said. When lake levels were lowered to unnatural levels in 1972 — the year before the Guardians were established — several beaches were lost forever, Sir Alan said. Decades of daily lake level data was used to establish the guidelines more than 50 years ago and they had since "proved to be extremely successful" in retaining the lakes' beaches in their natural state, he said. Meridian manages about half of New Zealand's total hydro storage and uses Lakes Pūkaki, Ōhau, Aviemore, Waitaki, Benmore, Manapōuri and Te Anau to generate energy. Previously, a Meridian spokesman said the government "has been very clear in its desire to ensure there's enough electricity for all New Zealand homes and businesses this winter, and Manapōuri Power Station has an important role to play in that". Changes to the operating guidelines include changing the drawdown rates, reducing duration requirements on how long the lakes can stay within the first band of low operating ranges, and removing equinoctial requirements, which set additional limits on how hydro generation could affect the lakes twice a year during windier periods.
Otago Daily Times
04-05-2025
- Politics
- Otago Daily Times
Letters to the Editor: Trump, Monowai and Gaza
Today's Letters to the Editor from readers cover topics including Trumpian tactics in NZ politics, an alternative viewpoint on Monowai, and Israel's aid blockade on Gaza. Trumpian tactics and our current managers In which perverse world would any right-minded person consider that following the example of governance pursued by Trump in America is an acceptable strategy? We now have, for the first time in New Zealand, a director-general of health who has no expertise in the promotion and distribution of practical health care, nor its ethical application to every individual. Since when has the absence of the appropriate professional qualification been the laudable primary driver in the delivery of the health practices beneficial to the public health of the nation? In parallel, why has the Minister for Sciences — a tax lawyer — been allowed to dictate the curricula of our universities? To reinforce that capricious and misguided directive she has slashed one source of essential funding, the Marsden Fund. Perhaps some of the wealthy citizens would favour the adoption of the Trumpian tactics which have so degraded American society We have a prime minister who is indulging in a protracted OE, to escape the obligation of personal accountability that comes with his office — that is, questions from the media, delegating his responsibility to a surrogate, would-be next PM, Chris Bishop. Our Minister of Finance has an undergraduate degree in English Literature. Shouldn't that appointment have met with the disapproval of our Minister of Sciences? Why suddenly is there no national standard in education that our young children must meet to later, get gainful employment? Our population is far too small for this variability to enhance our productivity. Are our teachers being bribed into acceptance with free registration? [Abridged: length. Editor.] The plan works Re Assoc Prof Earl Bardsley's letter (1.5.25) offering an alternative viewpoint on the 100-year anniversary of Pioneer Energy's Lake Monowai Power Station, it is appropriate to recognise the scheme is part of the existing environment. Whilst Pioneer Energy operate the scheme, the Guardians of Lakes Manapouri, Monowai and Te Anau has oversight to ensure the lake mimics natural variation as it had prior to the scheme's construction. It is simply not credible to remove the power scheme as suggested by Prof Bardsley and reinstate the lake to its natural condition. The scheme has been in place for 100 years and plant communities along the shoreline gradient are now beginning to reflect what would have existed along the former shoreline prior to the scheme's introduction. The scheme provides a credible addition to Southland's renewable energy supply and Pioneer has the support of the Guardians in the work they do managing Lake Monowai. Chairman, Guardians of Lakes Manapouri, Monowai and Te Anau Blame the parents The parents of the kids stealing cars should be held responsible for paying for the damages. Hear hear Thank you Joan Bishop (Fresh ODT 30.4.25). Your recipes have stood the test of time over many decades. They have been adapted for classroom use and appreciated by family and friends who continue to enjoy tasty treats via Joan's numerous recipe books and former copies kept from the ODT 's Southern Kitchen column. Unless receiving independent media using on-the-ground reportage you may not know the full impact of Israel's aid blockade of Gaza since March 18. Where is our government's outrage at this in-plain-sight collective punishment, against both Geneva Convention and international law? During the present parliamentary recess our MPs have down-time to consider arguments for and against stronger action, and whether or not to support a long-overdue parliamentary debate about our foreign policy on this issue. Seldom has our independent foreign policy been more under threat – and independent thought more called for. Chloe Swarbrick's illegal occupation sanctions Bill needs six persons of informed conscience to make this happen, under Standing Order 288 allowing all MPs to indicate their support for member's Bills. Only such a debate will expose to scrutiny double standards of backing sanctions against Russia – while Israel's illegal occupation and "all-are-Hamas" permissive overkill go unchecked. Surely international law is precisely in smaller nations' national interest. Address Letters to the Editor to: Otago Daily Times, PO Box 517, 52-56 Lower Stuart St, Dunedin. Email: editor@
