Hydro exemption from water standards risks two-tier regime - Trustpower

Hydro exemption from water standards risks two-tier regime - Trustpower
Gavin Evans
By Gavin Evans Sept. 9 (BusinessDesk) - Exempting the country’s major hydro catchments from new controls on fresh water quality appears arbitrary and runs the risk of putting disproportionate scrutiny on smaller schemes, Trustpower chief executive Vince Hawksworth says. The proposal – to allow councils to accept lower water quality in rivers hosting major dams – is intended to maintain flexibility for the country’s biggest providers of renewable energy. But officials acknowledged the move is a compromise that could be unfair to producers...

More Policy

MoT to gauge market interest in toll road concessions
Policy

MoT to gauge market interest in toll road concessions

Investment bank Citi will assist the ministry. Transurban has already signalled interest.

Govt announces first three 'regional deal' contenders
Policy

Govt announces first three 'regional deal' contenders

Ministers want regions to consider 'asset recycling', among other funding tools.

Oliver Lewis 02 Jul 2025
‘Bluewater backbone’: Lyttelton, Auckland ports plan $1b+ of upgrades
Policy

‘Bluewater backbone’: Lyttelton, Auckland ports plan $1b+ of upgrades

Two of the biggest NZ ports are raising prices as they plan major investments.

Oliver Lewis 02 Jul 2025
'There are some firms in NZ I won’t touch'
Policy

'There are some firms in NZ I won’t touch'

Adam Feeley on the reluctance to call out poor performers in NZ infrastructure sector.

Oliver Lewis 30 Jun 2025