Skip to this page's content Skip to access keys
Go to home page [Ministry for the Environment]

Home | Contact us | Related links | Site map
Working
with you		 | The
issues		 | Laws and
treaties		 | Environmental
reporting		 | Publications | About the
Ministry

You are here: Resource Management Act Contains: Call-in of Transpower's North Island Grid Upgrade Project Contains:

Logo of the Board of Inquiry. Board of Inquiry Upper North Island Grid Upgrade Proposal

Last updated: 27 May 2009

Transpower New Zealand Ltd (Transpower) is proposing to build a new overhead electricity transmission line, underground cables and substations in the upper North Island. Minister Pete Hodgson called in Transpower's proposal in August and appointed an independent Board of Inquiry to consider submissions on Transpower’s proposal, to hold public hearings and to make a final decision on the proposal. See background information on the proposal for more details.

The Board’s chair is Judge David Sheppard, a former Principal Environment Judge.  The other Board members are Kevin Prime, Dr Deborah Read and John Rutherford. See biographical information on the board members.

Draft Report and Decision

The Board of Inquiry has released its Draft Report and Decision.

Meeting minutes

The Board will meet as required throughout the process. Once the Board has confirmed the minutes of each meeting, they will be made publicly available on this website.

The minutes for the Board meeting on the 3 February 2009 is now available.

Hearing

The Board of Inquiry hearing commenced at 11.00 am on Tuesday 25 March 2008 in Hamilton.  The hearing of Transpower’s application was completed on Thursday 26 June 2008.  The hearing of submitters was completed on 8 October 2008.  The hearing closed at 12.40 on 31 October 2008 with the completion of Transpower’s right of reply to submitters. 

The Board issued a media statement (PDF, 59 KB) at the closing of the hearing.

Evidence

Pre-hearing

Viewing of proposed route and sites

Reports

  • The Section 42A report on the Upper North Island Grid Upgrade Proposal is available. This report was commissioned by the Board of Inquiry under section 42A of the Resource Management Act and includes the key issues of the proposal, an overview of the notices of requirement documentation and resource consent applications lodged and an analysis of information provided by Transpower.
  • The List of Submissions report is available. This groups submissions under topic areas and generic issues raised by the public and other interested parties

Submissions

The Board of Inquiry Upper North Island Grid Upgrade Proposal has received 1244 submissions on Transpower’s proposed new electricity line.

Additional information on the National Policy Statement

Memorandum of Counsel lodged with the Board of Inquiry

Memorandums of Counsel lodged with the Board of Inquiry are available.

Counsel for Transpower has lodged a Memorandum and further information with the Board in response to requests made during the presentation of the closing legal submissions:

  • Memorandum containing an electronic version of supplementary legal submissions in response to Manukau City Council, Waikato District Council and Drummond Dairies Limited and Scenic Farms Limited – 7 November 2008
  • A copy of the draft conditions that contains all the cross-reference numbers – 7 November 2008

Counsel for Transpower has lodged a Memorandum with the Board of Inquiry in relation to a proposed site/route visit, 8 May 2008.
Board Minute – the Board have responded to Transpower’s Memorandum of Counsel in relation to proposed site/route visit:

Dr Robert McQueen has made an application to view original documents referred to in Professor Elwood’s evidence:

Board decision on AATUC additional evidence

The Board has released its decision on 14 October 2008 regarding Ardmore Airfield Tenants and Users Committee (AATUC) additional evidence (PDF 370 KB)

Board decision on request for adjournment of the Board of Inquiry Hearing

The Board of Inquiry released its decision on 3 March 2008 on the adjournment request lodged by Counsel, on behalf of Robert McQueen. Information on the adjournment request, Board Minute and Responses to the minute are available.

Media releases

Contact details
To make contact or for further information on the Board of Inquiry, please contact the Project Manager for the Board, Viv Smith.

Freephone: 0800 876 447

Call In Unit
The Ministry for the Environment
PO Box 10362
Thorndon
Wellington 6143
Email: tpcallin@mfe.govt.nz