About the Board of Inquiry Upper North Island Grid Upgrade Proposal
Minister Pete Hodgson, acting for the Minister for the Environment appointed the Board of Inquiry on 12 September.
The Chair is Judge David Sheppard, a former Principal Environment Judge. The other Board members are Kevin Prime, Dr Deborah Read and John Rutherford.
The role of the Board is to consider submissions on Transpower’s proposal, to hold public hearings and to make a final decision.
Biographical information on the members of the Board of Inquiry
Judge David Sheppard was appointed Principal Planning Judge in 1987 and this position became the Principal Environment Judge in 1996. He retired in March 2001 and is now an Alternate Environment Judge.
Judge Sheppard has taken part in numerous significant RMA decisions, and chaired the Waitaki Catchment Water Allocation Board.
Kevin Prime is an Environment Commissioner and is experienced in RMA decision making. As is a farmer and forester he has a good understanding of the rural sector. Kevin’s tribal associations are with Ngati Hine and he has a strong understanding of tikanga Maori.
Kevin Prime has also worked on nature conservation projects. He has been appointed to several Government reference and advisory groups such as the Ministerial Advisory Committee on Biodiversity in 1999.
Kevin Prime is Deputy Chair of Ngai Whenua Rahui. Kevin Prime is also a trustee of the ASB Community Trust and Secretary of Waimahae Marae Trustees.
Dr Deborah Read is a public health medicine consultant and is qualified in the area of public and environmental health and health risk assessment. Dr Read is currently a part time Medical Officer of Health for the Hutt Valley District Board and a public health medicine consultant. She has been Deputy Chair of the Medical Council since 2002, and a member of the Environmental Risk Management Authority since 2006. Dr Read is also Chair of the Ministry of Health’s Organochlorines Technical Advisory Group.
John Rutherford is an electrical engineer with over 30 years experience in the electricity industry. He brings a sound understanding of the energy sector to the Board. John Rutherford is a consultant with East Harbour Management Services which provides advice to a range of organisations in the energy sector including government.
Last updated: 22 July 2008
