Fletcher Tabuteau MP
New Zealand First Spokesperson for Energy and Commerce

13 DECEMBER 2016

JOYCE FAILS TO UNDERSTAND HIGH POWER PRICES STIFLE GROWTH

Minister of Economic Development Steven Joyce is incapable of understanding that power price hikes are stifling major development, says New Zealand First Spokesperson for Energy and Commerce Fletcher Tabuteau.

“Plans for a $300 pulp mill at Ngawha, near Kaikohe, which would have created hundreds of jobs in struggling Northland were scuppered last week because of proposed Electricity Authority Power price hikes.

“NZ Steel and Norske Skog are other major industrial plants and big employers that are just hanging on because of high power prices, but Mr Joyce doesn’t see it.

“He prefers to fudge the whole issue and always diverts to saying how wonderful an 18.5km motorway between Puhoi and Warkworth will be as though this small strip of highway is all Northland needs economically.

“He needs to get a strong dose of reality – high power prices cripple major economic development in regions such as Northland and all around New Zealand

“To make matters worse, Mr Joyce, the Minister of Energy and Resources and the government cannot ensure the Electricity Authority has a fair pricing system,” says Mr Tabuteau.

ENDS

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