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Background to the proposal

Logo of the Board of Inquiry.

Transpower has lodged notices of requirement and applications for resource consents for its proposal to build a new overhead electricity transmission line, underground cables and substations, from Whakamaru to Otahuhu and Pakuranga (the North Island Grid Upgrade Proposal).

The proposed line would be approximately 200km in length, supply power to the Auckland and Northland regions, and traverse the jurisdictions of nine local authorities (Auckland Region, Franklin District, Manukau City, Matamata-Piako District, South Waikato District, Taupo District, Waikato District, Waikato Region, Waipa District) through mainly rural land.

Map showing route of Transpower's proposed new transmission line.

Minister Pete Hodgson stated that “Transpower’s proposal is of national significance due to the scale of the proposal that affects seven districts and both the Waikato and Auckland regions and due to the amount of public interest in the project.  It warrants a rare intervention under the Resource Management Act.”

The call-in process has involved the Minister issuing a Public Notice of direction calling in Transpower’s Upper North Island Grid Upgrade proposal, seeking submissions on the notices of requirement and applications for resource consent, and appointing an independent Board of Inquiry, chaired by Judge David Sheppard.

The Board has heard the application and submissions at public hearings held between March and October 2008.  The Board will now consider the evidence and submission and will then issue a draft decision report including its draft decision on Transpower’s applications for designations and consents for the transmission line.

For more information on Transpower’s proposal and the call in, please see the call-in of Transpower's North Island Grid Upgrade Project webpages.

Last updated: 4 November 2008