Regulator defends Top Energy move
Allowing Top Energy to run its expanded Ngawha geothermal plant in-house is unlikely to cause any competition or market issues, the Electricity Authority says.
The regulator is calling for comments on its draft decision on the Far North distributor's application for an exemption from electricity industry legislation. That requires distribution firms to establish "arms-length" corporate separation between their regulated businesses and their generation assets if they have more than 50MW of capacity on its own network.
At present the 32MW nameplate capacity of Top's Ngawha geothermal units and of its 3.65MW diesel plant in Taipa are within regulatory limits.
Church vandalism probed
Police are investigating a break-in and vandalism at a church on Kaikohe's Hongi St. A fire extinguisher was discharged inside the church and some items were stolen in Saturday's burglary.
Anyone with information is urged to call Kaikohe station on (09) 405 2960. It is the same street where Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Kaikohe was broken into and extensively vandalised last month.
Motorist charged twice in two hours
A 55-year-old Kaitaia woman was charged with driving with excess alcohol for the third or subsequent time twice in two hours on Sunday.
The first charge was laid after the woman allegedly exited the KFC drive-through in Kaitaia at 5.34pm, crashing into another vehicle. She recorded 1058 micrograms per litre of breath.
Police stopped her at Takahue at 7.26pm, after her car was seen swerving on South Rd, Kaitaia, when she recorded 911 micrograms, saying she had been going to tell her boyfriend that she had been caught the first time.
Recycling sites taking soft plastics
All Far North District Council refuse transfer stations are now accepting soft plastics, including plastic bags and film (food wrap), for recycling, free of charge. The same deal applies to dry cell batteries.
'Sober' driver charged
A Kaitaia man, who was reportedly serving as his mates' sober driver, and held a zero alcohol licence, didn't quite meet the required standard when he was stopped by police last week. He recorded 704 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath. He was one of a number of people charged with driving with excess alcohol, one recording 1032 micrograms, more than four times the legal limit.