Both Ngati Whatua and Te Uri o Hau continue to battle against the project. Kaipara Mayor Neil Tiller and several politicians have also expressed their concerns about the environmental impacts of the project.
Several public meetings have been held and over 500 people have objected to the Environment Court’s recommendations and subsequent approval by the Conservation Minister, Kate Wilkinson.
This is an overview of the process to date. Further links will be added as new information comes to hand.
To achieve
a good level of understanding the process
we believe it is important to read the information in chronological
order. Please help yourself to the information below. We welcome your feedback.
| Kaipara Harbour power turbines process |
| 2011 |
|
Project analysis - it will fail
Roger Dewhurst has analysed the Crest Energy Kaipara turbine proposal and concluded that the project will fail for two reasons: magnetic sands will damage the turbines, and reduced tidal currents will result in deposits of sand impairing turbine performance and potentially damaging the undersea cables......... |
May 2011
(90Kb)
|
Public meetings
Te Uri o Hau continues its battle against the Crest Energy proposal, organising public meetings in Dargaville, Te Hana and Helensville. The Kaipara mayor, Neil Tiller, is concerned with the impacts. |
29 Mar 11
|
Radio Waatea interview
Willie Jackson interviews Mikaera Miru, of Te Uri o Hau, about the proposal to install tidal generators at the Kaipara Harbour entrance. Major concerns for snapper, other fish, Maui dolphins and orca whales. |
|
Minister's approval announcement
Article advising the Conservation Minister had approved the Crest Energy proposal to install tidal power generators at the Kaipara Harbour entrance. The NRC is to monitor the impacts from the initial three turbines on marine life before another 17 can be installed. That increases to 40, 80 and up to a maximum of 200. |
17 Mar 11
|
Ministerial approval confirmed
Kate Wilkinson, Minister of Conservation, approves the staged development of the Crest Energy proposal to install up to 200 turbines at the Kaipara Harbour entrance. |
17 Mar 11
(40Kb)
|
Panui to public meeting
More than 300 people attended a public meeting in Dargaville Town Hall to discuss the government's approval for the Crest Energy project. Further meetings planned for 11 and 12 April in Te Hana and Helensville respectively. |
7 Mar 11
(230Kb)
|
Meeting notice
Notice of a public meeting organised by Te Uri o Hau, to oppose the Crest Energy project and the Environment Court's February approval of the project. |
3 Mar 11
|
Environment Court decision details
Article covering details about the Environment Court decision and the requirement to firstly install three turbines and monitor the results. Crest Energy pleased, and waiting for final consent from the Conservation Minister, Kate Wilkinson. |
8 Feb 11
|
Adverse decision by the Environment Court
The Environment Court approves the resource consent for the Crest Energy proposal, but specifies that certain conditions must be met and there will be a staged development. (Caution: Large document........4.0MB) |
3 Feb 11
(4.0MB)
|
| 2010 |
|
Massive turbines for the Kaipara Harbour
option4 Update #133 discusses the Crest Energy proposal and concerns about the snapper population and sustainability of other important west coast fisheries. |
May 2010
|
Presentation to Hokianga Accord
Presentation by Te Uri o Hau at the Hokianga Accord hui, Oturei Marae, Kaipara. Various viewpoints were discussed after this korero [talk] by Mihi Watene, Te Uri o Hau Settlement Trust chairwoman and John Retimana of Ngati Whatua. Robust discussion followed this presentation. |
22 Apr
10
(Pdf 230Kb)
|
Sea-power promoters swimming against the tide
NZ Herald Opinion piece - Sea-power promoters swimming against the tide. Discusses the Crest Energy Kaipara Harbour proposal and other potential power generating projects. |
19 Apr 10
|
Maori Party media release
Hone Harawira supports Ngati Whatua and Te Uri o Hau and wants the foreshore and seabed issue sorted before this project proceeds. |
14 Apr
10
(Pdf 60Kb)
|
Crest Energy FAQs
A comprehensive list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) and answers online at Crest Energy's website here..........
|
Apr
2010
|
Interim Court decision
Interim Environment Court decision includes a map of the likely installation area and description of how large the power turbines will be: 30m x 25m x 24m. (Caution: Large document........4.6MB) |
Apr 2010
(Pdf 4.6MB)
|
Minimum requirements for turbine installation
Presentation from Siemens - The minimum data required to assess a suitable site and the ideal conditions. |
Apr
2010
(Pdf 100Kb)
|
Description of site data required
Presentation from Siemens - An interesting description of the minimum data required to assess a suitable site for tidal generators. |
Apr
2010
(Pdf 180Kb)
|
Potential benefits of Crest Energy project
NZ Herald article discussing the potential benefits of the Crest Energy tidal project in the Kaipara Harbour. The Environment Court has recommended that the Conservation Minister approve the project, with certain conditions. |
11 Jan 10
|
| 2002 to 2009 |
|
NIWA Report - west coast snapper
A review of land-based effects on coastal fisheries and supporting biodiversity in New Zealand. Mark Morrison et al. 2009 (Caution: Large document........5.7MB)
|
2009
(Pdf 5.7MB)
|
Tory Channel turbines?
Dominion Post article discussing the possibility of 20 tidal turbines being installed in the Tory Channel, Marlborough Sounds. Downplays the impacts.
|
9 Dec 09
|
Nine year plan
NZ Herald article - Tood Energy announces it is taking a 30% stake in Crest Energy's Kaipara Harbour tidal generator project. Crest Energy aims to have the project fully operational within nine years.
|
4 Dec 09
|
Interesting perspective on Kaipara project
Seminar presentation by Garry Venus of Argo Environmental to the Resource Management Law Association of NZ, Auckland branch seminar, in November 2009. Worth reading. (Caution: Large document........3.6MB)
|
Nov 2009
(Pdf 3.6MB)
|
Conservation Minister's appeal
The Conservation Minister advises that an appeal is being lodged against the Northland Regional Council consent, to consider the impacts on marine mammals. |
13 Oct 08
(Pdf 60Kb)
|
MFish advice of NRC consent
MFish advise the Northland Regional Council has granted consent for the Crest Energy project. Turbines to be installed in stages and impacts monitored. Appeal can be made to the Environment Court within 15 days of the decision. |
25 Aug
08
(Pdf 60Kb)
|
Neptune Power - merits of turbines
Neptune Power Ltd article discussing the merits of developing tidal stream energy and particular turbines suitable for use in the Cook Strait. |
9 Feb 07
(Pdf 110Kb)
|
DoC questions mortality rates
A letter from the Department of Conservation to Peter Fraenkel challenging the notion that there would be insignificant impacts on marine mammals. DoC notes the "turbines may pose a risk to whales and the whales a risk to the turbines". |
5 Sep 06
(Pdf 70Kb)
|
Tidal current technology paper
Paper by Peter Fraenkel. This sets the context for the development of tidal current technology and considers the likely environmental impacts on mammals and birds. The conclusions have since been challenged by DoC (see above, 5 Sept 2006). |
27 May
06
(Pdf 110Kb)
|
Sealion autopsies - interim report
DoC interim report - autopsy of sealions caught in commercial fisheries, May 2002. Sent by DoC to Peter Fraenkel and Neptune Power on 5 Sept 2006. |
6 May
02
(Pdf 130Kb)
|
