Media Release
2nd March 2004

Power Cuts Inevitable

New Zealand First says increased power costs will be the only guaranteed outcome of the Resource Management (Energy and Climate Change) Amendment Bill.

“New Zealand First strongly advocates the urgent need for gas and coal to be considered for future power generation,” said local government spokesperson Jim Peters.

“The bill, which was passed last week, completely ignores the possibility of minimising increased power generation costs.

“New Zealand’s generous coal reserves are found in both the North and South Islands. They could be used, locally and regionally, in modern generation plants, using the latest technology with reduced pollutants.

“Security of supply and certainty of cost would benefit all consumers, both household and commercial. Businesses could significantly reduce their overheads with cost competitive power generation.

“I am disappointed that the government is once again not seriously considering all the options. I foresee dark days ahead, with soaring costs and power crises the only certainties,” said Mr Peters.

ENDS

© Scoop Media

Gordon Campbell: On the Sony cyber attack

Given the layers of meta-irony involved, the saga of the Sony cyber attack seemed at the outset more like a snarky European art film than a popcorn entry at the multiplex.

Yet now with (a) President Barack Obama weighing in on the side of artistic freedom and calling for the US to make a ‘proportionate response’quickly followed by (b) North Korea’s entire Internet service going down, and with both these events being followed by (c) Sony deciding to backtrack and release The Interview film that had made it a target for the dastardly North Koreans in the first place, then ay caramba…the whole world will now be watching how this affair pans out. More>>