Government Can't Downplay Energy Crisis

In the wake of this morning’s announcement that Meridian Energy's Christchurch customers will be hit by a 10 per cent price hike in September, New Zealand First energy spokesperson Peter Brown is calling for longer-term solutions to the country’s growing electricity crisis.

“Electricity supply is a critical issue. We can't just sit around waiting for Aqua, or waiting to find another significant gas field,” said Mr Brown.

“Nearly five years after promising to fix the problems in this industry, the Government is still trying to shrug off concerns about security of electricity supply.

“The projections on New Zealand's energy needs for the next 20 years made last October by the Ministry of Economic Development makes it clear that the current situation cannot be sustained.

“The electricity industry is suffering from chronic under-investment and a lack of direction, and is badly in need of major longer-term solutions. The aim must be to provide electricity for all at the flick of a switch and at reasonable modest price.

“Until the Government is willing to stop driving the energy debate from the sideline, let the Cabinet ministers have cold showers. Perhaps that might spur them into action,” Mr Brown concluded.

© 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>>