Sivivatu Joins All Blacks

FIRST EDITION $1 RD extra 5c TUESDAY, AUGUST 8, 2006 www.waikatotimes.co.nz SIVIVATU JOINS TODAY AND EVERY TUESDAY ALL BLACKS TV LIFTOUT INSIDE SPORT 24 Pylons short-circuit opposed guidelines to help investment. Mr Storey said the directives were wind- He said Transpower would be allowed to By Bruce Holloway and NZPA There has been vocal opposition to the ing back the clock. “It is ludicrous to put in “recover reasonable costs” of buying land plans to erect pylons up to 70m high place a process, then say if you don’t like it, corridors, such as for the proposed Waikato Government ministers have given new through the Waikato, but grid operator short circuit it. line from Whakamaru to Otahuhu, before directives to the Electricity Commission and Transpower has been buying land in prepa- “They are putting themselves in a situa- the final approval for upgrade plans. the Commerce Commission which suggest ration for getting the plan approved. tion where a process that had a measure of National’s Piako MP Lindsay Tisch said it they support a 400kV power line being built New Era Energy’s North Waikato chair- independence could be over-ruled by a gov- was nonsense that there were three bodies through the Waikato. man Rob Storey has likened the situation to ernment that thinks it knows best, with op- arguing among themselves over the future of And that’s annoyed anti-pylon lobby the time when governments decreed and tions not fully explored.” electricity generation in New Zealand. He group New Era Energy. threatened the Public Works Act if people There has been confusion about the Wai- argued simpler structures were needed. Energy Minister David Parker has or- didn’t obey. kato grid upgrade, but the June 28 Auck- National’s Port Waikato MP Dr Paul dered the Electricity Commission to give top Commerce Minister Lianne Dalziel said OPPOSING VIEWS: Energy Minister David Parker, land blackout appears to have been the last Hutchison said there was no question that priority to a secure power supply in changes while the Commerce Commission would con- left, and National’s Piako MP Lindsay Tisch. straw for the Government. the security of Auckland’s power supply had to the Government’s Policy Statement on tinue to protect consumers from excessivebusinesses should be taken into account in Mr Parker said the Commerce Commis- to be maintained, but the Government Electricity. At the same time changes are pricing, “the long-term benefit to consumers sion and Transpower had to settle their dif- should do more investigations of alternatives being made to the Commerce Commission’s of investment in infrastructure and relatedprice-setting”. ferences and get on with the job. to the Transpower-backed line. Turbine may bring power to the people The answer to rising power bills may be blowing in the wind for farm- ers and high electricity users in ex- posed locations. Aaron Enright, manager of Hamil- ton company Eco Energy, is in the throes of having tested a sample Zephyr Airdolphin Mark-Zero wind turbine that has been imported from Japan. The turbine, in use in Japan and Spain, is being tested for New Zea- land conditions and synchronicity with our 230-volt power supply. If it scrubs up, Mr Enright and fellow entrepreneurs Tony Raseen and Ian Hodgkinson (principal of sis- ter company Wind Power Energy Sys- tems Ltd) already have 1146 orders from a Fieldays promotion. That’s despite the 17.5kg unit costing $20,000. “Demand has exceeded expecta- tions,” Mr Enright said. “I thought we might have got one or two inqui- ries, but we have been overwhelmed.” The three-blade carbon-fibre Air- dolphin can deliver 2.5-3.2kW output. In stronger winds it automatically moderates its spinning speed and continues working at reduced output. Waikato is not a windy region, but Mr Enright said turbines would be “absolutely ideal” in places such as Raglan and the Kaimai Range. Mr Hodgkinson said it was possi- ble to have days of it “blowing like anything — then nothing”. But he said the turbine also had the bonus of being able to earn credits by feeding electricity back into the national grid through the turbine configuration. “There’s nothing better at night than laying in bed and thinking ‘man, I’m feeding the meter’,” he said. — Bruce Holloway BLADE RUNNER: Aaron Enright says his Zephyr Airdolphin Mark-Zero wind turbine could strike a blow for cheaper power bills. PICTURE: Peter Drury Attack won’t deter volunteer New ‘asset’ at Tainui firm Offbeat Visitors to Liverpool’s Central Library can Searle, who was in uniform, St John Ambulance area The man in charge of overseeing Earlier this year, TGH announced By Reon Suddaby now exercise while they read. Keep-fit went outside and found a car manager Mike Pudney said assets worth $312 million started a record net profit of $24.3 million. equipment, including squat machines and in a ditch and an argument there had been some inci- work yesterday. Mr Pohio is a chartered accoun- shoulder presses, has been installed at St John volunteer Josh involving his neighbour and a dents in recent years where Mike Pohio is the new chief execu- tant and has a master of business the city centre library as part of a healthy Searle says he’ll continue to man. ambulance officers were at- tive of Tainui Group Holdings (TGH) administration degree. His previous living campaign. ‘‘The gym equipment will offer help to people in need Moments later Mr Searle’stacked while on the job, but and succeeds Steve Murray, who left job was as container terminal manag- be discreetly placed so as not to interfere — despite showing the scars with the day-to-day running of the library of a weekend beating. glasses were smashed and hegenerally it was not much of in June after four years in the job. er at the Port of Tauranga. was left with concussion and a problem. Company chairman John Spencer Before that he worked at manage- and special clothing will not be required,” Mr Searle, 29, a volunteer Liverpool City Council fitness manager with St John for four years a sore nose after being A 37-year-old Raglan man said Mr Pohio’s diverse professional ment level for Fonterra and one of its Mark Jones said. “This new project will and a lifeguard, was attacked headbutted. was arrested on Sunday and background made him well suited to predecessors, New Zealand Dairy hopefully encourage many more library at the scene of a car crash in “It’s just one of those is to appear in the Hamilton take charge of the company, which he Group. users to think about getting fit bodies as Raglan on Friday. things...you kind of expect District Court on Friday, MIKE POHIO: said had gone from strength to TGH’s main commercial focus is on well as fit minds.” Instructors will be on The crash was outside his that occasionally you’ll get charged with assaulting MrReplaces Steve strength under the leadership of Mr property. hand to supervise and offer advice as part home on Wainui Rd. Mr aggressive people,” he said. Searle.Murray as CEO. Murray. See Out and about, page 13 of the scheme. A FAIRFAX MEDIA NEWSPAPER INSIDE: TV, WEATHER P12 BUSINESS P13,14 SPORT P24,22-20 FAMILY NOTICES P11 FULL INDEX P2.

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