Court ruling reduces NZ to nutcase status, says MP

1.00pm

New Zealand has been reduced to "nutcase status" by the Environment Court decision to reduce resource renewal for the Tongariro hydro scheme, United Future energy spokesman Gordon Copeland says.

Whanganui River Maori won an Environment Court victory that could lead to the closure of the Tongariro hydro scheme.

This is because the disputed water that flows through Genesis Energy's Tongariro scheme also provides 20 per cent of the water in the Waikato River, where it is used by 10 power stations including New Zealand's biggest, at Huntly.

"Frankly we risk becoming a laughing stock if we continue down the road of political correctness over common sense," Mr Copeland said.

"The Environment Court has ruled that the continued diversion of the headwaters of the Whanganui, Whangaehu and Moawhango Rivers ... is 'sacrilege', a 'denigration of Maori values and beliefs', and 'hurtful of Maori self-esteem'.

"Let's for once get real. I am sure the overwhelming majority of NZ Maori, like the rest of us, don't want to risk going without electricity in their homes and businesses."

That was what the Environment Court was risking, he said.

"It is unacceptable for any unelected group ... to place New Zealand's electricity supply in jeopardy. The decision borders on the unreal."

Genesis and another state-owned company, Mighty River Power, say those 10 stations, in addition to the two in the Tongariro scheme, are affected by the court decision that cut Tongariro water rights from 35 years to 10 with no guarantee of renewal.

Genesis and Mighty River Power are scrutinising the 135-page court decision, issued last month, to decide whether to appeal.

Expanding the Resource Management Act (RMA) to cover metaphysical and spiritual beliefs was a direct cause of the power crisis, ACT MP Ken Shirley said yesterday.

"The Environment Court's recent decision -- curtailing the water rights that underpin the Tongariro Power Scheme -- was totally predictable, and is what comes of elevating myth and legend to matters of national importance within legislation," he said.

Mr Shirley said New Zealand had invested millions into the scheme.

"The river flows in the lower Whanganui have been negligibly affected, and regular flood events ensure a healthy and dynamic river system," he said.

Spiritual beliefs and superstition forming part of the RMA should not be able to impact on the public good, he said.

The Tongariro scheme, opened in two stages in 1973 and 1983, diverts the headwaters of the Whanganui, Whangaehu and Moawhango rivers on the North Island central plateau via canals to the Rangipo and Tokaanu hydro stations.

Whanganui Maori, who were never consulted about the scheme during its construction, went to the Environment Court objecting to the resource consents being extended another 35 years.

In its decision, the court agreed with them that siphoning the water was sacrilege and a denigration of their values and beliefs. It cut the consents to 10 years and said Genesis and iwi should reach agreement by then.

- NZPA