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Lakes overflow but power bill relief ruled out
– Thursday, 08 January 2009
Power-price cuts are being ruled out despite generators spilling vast amounts of water from over-full South Island hydro lakes.
The glut of water was highlighted yesterday by the first spill at the Benmore power station on the Waitaki River in nearly five years.
Continuing spills from Lake Tekapo and Lake Pukaki further up Meridian Energy's Waitaki River hydro scheme have fed downstream into Lake Benmore, lifting it above its maximum operating level and forcing a massive release of water yesterday afternoon.
Household power prices are predicted to almost double this decade and are already two-thirds higher than in 2000.
The state-owned power company last spilled at Benmore, the biggest station on the Waitaki chain, in March 2004.26c a kilowatt hour (kWh) (including GST) in 2000, to 21.
Average residential power prices have risen 66 per cent in the past eight years from 13.97c a kWh last year.
South Island hydro lakes are brimming over after weeks of heavy north-westerly rain, just four months after low lake levels raised fears of spring power shortages.
Politicians were fired up about electricity prices late last year, demanding answers after Contact Energy increased prices by more than 10 percentin some regions.
As a result, wholesale, or spot prices have tumbled to the point where the water is effectively worthless. With more north-west rain on the way and low demand for power as a result of summer holidays, spilling is likely to continue from Benmore, Pukaki and Tekapo.001c a kWh.
Yesterday, spot prices at Benmore bottomed out at 1c a megawatt hour (MWh), or 0. During last winter's power shortage, spot prices peaked five or six times higher than average at almost 50c a kWh, or $500 a MWh. During last winter's power shortage, spot prices peaked five or six times higher than average at almost 50c a kWh, or $500 a MWh.
Meridian and Contact Energy, which is also spilling from Lake Roxburgh and Lake Dunstan, said the increased residential tariffs had already allowed for the possibility spot prices might fall temporarily. However, there is no sign the reverse is true.
"It is like swings and roundabouts.
Meridian spokeswoman Claire Shaw said commercial customers that bought power on the spot market would be "reaping the rewards".
"So the tariff people are paying takes this kind of occurrence into account anyway."
The residential customer tariff had considered the likely behaviour of the spot market.
"Some people are saying they've never seen the lakes so full."
Contact spokesman Jonathan Hill said that the spilling and the low spot prices made for a "pretty unusual situation". This is a pretty rare and unusual set of circumstances.
"The way we set out retail tariffs is to shield customers from the fluctuations in the spot market by setting a price path."
Energy Minister Gerry Brownlee could not be contacted last night."
Energy Minister Gerry Brownlee could not be contacted last night.
Yesterday's spill at Benmore began at 4.30pm. Meridian is now spilling 200 cubic metres a second (cumecs) of water, the equivalent of 4GWh a day of electricity, enough to power about 200,000 homes. .
Shaw said Lake Benmore reached its maximum control level about 4pm, forcing operators to start spilling into the Waitaki River.
"We're getting about 200 cumecs more into Benmore than we can push through the station. We should be spilling for days."
There were no plans yet to spill from Lake Aviemore and Lake Waitaki further downstream but that could happen , she said.
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Fire ban looms for Hawke’s Bay
The Wednesday, 24 December 2008
A total fire ban looms in Hawke's Bay as the region struggles to cope with very dry conditions.
However, a meeting of the former Hawke's Bay drought committee in Hastings yesterday concluded the region is not yet in the grip of another drought.
"Many areas on the Heretaunga Plains and near the coast are verging on extreme fire conditions," he said.
Hastings District Council deputy principal rural fire officer Paul Hawke said soaring temperatures had made the district which covers a large part of Hawke's Bay one of the driest in the country.
Fire permits were now being issued only for barbecues and traditional cooking fires such as hangi. Maraekakaho, Crownthorpe, Waimarama, Ocean Beach and Putorino were the areas worst affected.
Hastings Mayor Lawrence Yule, who chaired the drought meeting, said parts of Hawke's Bay were very dry but others were doing well. A total ban would follow if the hot, dry conditions continued, Mr Hawke said.
Farmers were making use of their experience of recent droughts and selling off stock if they were short of feed.
"The worst areas are Mahia and parts of Central Hawke's Bay," he said.
Last year had been financially bad but recent price rises had helped, he said. "If they haven't got green grass then surplus lambs should go," Mr Yule said.
"You have to go back to 1914 to find a drier spring," Mr Wyn-Harris said.
Takapau farmer Steve Wyn-Harris, who keeps comprehensive rain records, said his area had received a total of 78 millimetres of rain over September, October and November. . "But it's patchy there were some thunderstorms in Central Hawke's Bay and some people got the rain, some didn't
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Wetas’ winning ways fascinate student
By – Tuesday, 16 December 2008
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NOT FUSSY: Victor Kang has won an award for his research into the mating habits of Banks Peninsula tree wetas.
For many students and adults, wetas are best left to their own creepy devices. .
The project last summer, supervised by Lincoln University, meant taking wetas out of their cage twice a day.
Victor's research into the mating preferences of endangered Banks Peninsula tree wetas was not for the faint-hearted.
"If you just handle them slowly and carefully and don't rush, they are OK," he said.
Victor admits to some early nerves, but said he soon realised the wetas were far more scared of him.
Victor's findings showed the Banks Peninsula female tree wetas were not fussy about whether they mated with males from their own species or those from the more common Canterbury tree wetas, which inhabit a similar environment.
Lincoln University entomologist and research co-supervisor Mike Bowie said the findings were valuable for scientists trying to determine whether the species was hybridising and whether the offspring were sterile.
"Interbreeding is bad for them they lose their identity and uniqueness," he said.
Victor, who has just finished his final year at Burnside High School, chose the weta research project from a list of topics provided on the application form.
Victor was one of four participants from last week's Realise the Dream science fair in Wellington who won the chance to present their findings to the Beijing Youth Science Creation Competition in March. "Even if I am just walking in the street and I see ants, I stop to look at them and study their behaviour.
His fascination with insects began in a public garden behind his apartment in his native South Korea, where he lived until he was eight."
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Inquest into six trawler deaths abandoned
By DYLAN THORNE – Wednesday, 10 December 2008
A Southland coroner has decided not to resume an inquest into the deaths of six people in the sinking of Bluff trawler Kotuku in 2006. .
In a decision released yesterday, Mr Savage acknowledges the capsize of the Kotuku, with the loss of six lives, was New Zealand's largest maritime disaster since the sinking of the Wahine and deserved public scrutiny.
The coroner adjourned the inquest in May 2006 after learning independent investigations were being carried out.
However, he says that scrutiny had been applied through inquiries and subsequent reports by the Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) and Maritime New Zealand and it is not in the public interest that it be relitigated at a resumed inquest.
Mr Savage does clarify that one of those on board, Ian "Shorty" Hayward, 52, died from drowning and hypothermia, consistent with cold-water immersion, rather than just cold water immersion as noted in a pathologist's report.
The TAIC report accepted the Kotuku capsized after being hit by two waves and, while the Maritime report had a different emphasis, the two were consistent and the coroner was satisfied matters such as the identity of those who died and and cause of death had been established, the decision says.
The only real question related to whether the circumstances of the deaths had been adequately established in the reports, the decision says.
Tests carried out to assess the boat's stability after it was recovered were inconclusive but TAIC found the general condition of the hull was substandard and it should not have passed a survey inspection.
Two issues highlighted in the inquiries were the stability of the Kotuku and the condition of its hull and fastenings.
Maritime New Zealand merely stated what the evidence of the surveyor and the skipper was and made no finding of its own.
However, it did not make a finding that that contributed to the accident, the decision says.
Both reports referred to actions already taken as a result of the tragedy and made extensive safety recommendations so there was no reason to hold and inquest for the purposes of making recommendations, the decision says.
Despite this, matters could be deemed to be adequately established if proper consideration was given to all evidence, even if that resulted in a conclusion that it was not possible to make definitive findings, the decision says.
Family members of those who died in the sinking could not be contacted for comment yesterday, but Mr Savage's decision notes they did not want the inquest to be held.
Family members of those who died in the sinking could not be contacted for comment yesterday, but Mr Savage's decision notes they did not want the inquest to be held.
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"You would have been asking a generalised body to review the work of a specialist organisation," he said
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Serious injuries in Wellington fire
Thursday, 13 November 2008
JESS MCKEOWN
HOUSE FIRE: One person has been taken to hospital after a fire in central Wellington’s Tasman St late last night. Fire officers have begun investigating the blaze.
Five fire engines rushed to the house in Mt Cook's Ranfurly Terrace about 11.
Up to 18 fire fighters battled a house fire in central Wellington for more than an hour, which left a female occupant with burns and other serious injuries.
A fire spokeswoman said it took nearly two hours to bring the blaze under control and fire services were still at the scene this morning.30pm last night to find the building already engulfed in flames.
The woman, who was the sole occupant, suffered burns among other serious injuries and was taken to Hutt Hospital. Fire officers did not yet know what caused the blaze.
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Locals dream of the big stage
By SHANE COWLISHAW – Friday, 31 October 2008
DEAN KOZANIC
Starlight in her eyes: Christchurch musical theatre performer Julia Guthrey, 23, was among those to make a shortlist from the Christchurch hopefuls auditioning for the roller-skating musical Starlight Express.
It was all leotards, nerves and hot dance moves at a Christchurch dance studio during auditions for the roller-skating musical Starlight Express.
Starlight is second to Cats as the longest-running musical in British theatre history, and tells the story of a child's dream in which his toy train set comes to life.
The Andrew Lloyd Webber production will be performed in New Zealand for the first time next year with shows in Wellington, Auckland and Christchurch, beginning on July 1. Auditions were also held in Auckland and Wellington.
The 34 hopefuls at yesterday's Christchurch audition at the Impact Dance Studios had been whittled down from hundreds of applicants, and they were competing for 29 spots across the country.
After singing two songs to the judging panel, she was asked to learn and sing two more from the musical.
Christchurch musical theatre performer Julia Guthrey, 23, was among those to make a shortlist from the Christchurch hopefuls.
Angela Hegraty, 22, said of her audition: "I just think the nerves got to me a bit and the choreography went out the window, but I think it went all right.
She said a role in Starlight Express would be a huge step up for her career, which has so far included roles in Christchurch productions of Cats, Chicago and Guys and Dolls. He said the audition panel would now make its recommendations to the English director of the show, and the successful candidates would be told before Christmas."
Producer Stewart Macpherson said the Christchurch hopefuls were among the strongest groups to audition.
The cast would be put through a four-week course with a top German roller-skating coach, he said.
Some hopefuls yesterday were nervous about their roller-skating abilities, but Macpherson said "if they can dance, then almost certainly they can skate".
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Poisoning tragedy survivor remains seriously ill
– Monday, 08 September 2008
Barbeque accident leaves two dead
Hamilton man Jason Basson remained seriously ill in an Auckland hospital this morning after a carbon monoxide poisoning at a motor camp close to Raglan that left two men dead.
Do you know more about the Ruapuke tragedy? The would like to talk to you.co. Please email news@waikatotimes.
Mr Basson, 32, is the sole survivor from the accident at the Ruapuke motor camp, which claimed the lives of his two companions.nz or phone the news desk on 07 8499 666.
The victims' names will not be released until relatives in South Africa are informed of the deaths.
The men died after inhaling fumes from a charcoal barbecue they brought inside to heat the tiny cabin.
The other victim was a 50-year-old purchaser, from Hamilton.
But Huntly policeman Sergeant Brent Wallace this morning told the one man was a 35-year-old store manager from Howick, Auckland.
Mr Basson had fallen in and out of consciousness as he dragged himself along the floor of the cabin in a desperate attempt to get help for his two mates.
All three men were originally from South Africa.
He was this morning recovering in North Shore Hospital's high dependency unit, where he was likely to remain for some time, a spokeswoman said.
He was airlifted to Waikato Hospital, before later being transferred to Devonport naval base in Auckland for hyperbaric treatment.
However, it all turned tragically wrong overnight Saturday after a charcoal-burning portable barbecue was turned on to help them keep warm.
The three men were in a group of five from Hamilton and Auckland who had travelled to the secluded Ruapuke Camping Ground, about 20km southwest of Raglan, for a weekend of fishing and relaxation, while their wives were attending a baby shower for the injured man's wife in Hamilton.
About 8am yesterday, the teenage son approached Mr Walker for help after he was unable to rouse the trio, who were late for their scheduled 5am fishing trip to the popular Papanui Rock, about 2km up the road.
Camp ground manager Ben Walker said the group arrived on Saturday and had hired two cabins, with a father and son sharing a neighbouring site."
He realised once he got to the cabin that something was wrong.
"He wanted to get in that cabin to get his food. Mr Basson told him he couldn't move and to call an ambulance.
Mr Walker said he spoke with the injured man through the door."
It was then he realised the barbecue was probably inside the cabin.
"I said 'wake the others up', but he said they won't wake up.
Once inside the two men were found dead in their beds with Mr Basson lying on the floor against the door.
Once inside the two men were found dead in their beds with Mr Basson lying on the floor against the door.
"I did hear him say he had passed out and come around again. There's a bit of wind that passes through these cabins, so maybe that little crack under the door was enough to keep him alive."
Mr Walker said he hardly recognised the Hamilton man whose complexion was white and swollen.
He he knew the men reasonably well as they had stayed at the camping ground at various times in the past.
"They're just happy go lucky kinda guys."
However, he was baffled as to why they would use the barbecue as a heater.
"I don't know why they took it in. It's too small to take anything like that inside."
The camp ground is a popular spot for families over the summer period who are keen to escape, he said.
Yesterday, campers on site were lying low, including a young family in a campervan, and were kept inside the cordon until interviewed by police.
Sergeant Wallace said there was no indication that the men's deaths were suspicious, more they died as a result of a tragic oversight.