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Minute has been prepared by DFG Sheppard, Chairperson for the Board of Inquiry

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  1. I have been shown a memorandum dated 8 February 2008 by counsel for Mr R McQueen, who has lodged a submission on Transpower’s Upper North Island Grid Upgrade Proposal.  Mr McQueen is asking that the Board adjourn the hearing of the proposal and the submissions on it until the outcome is known of certain judicial proceedings in the High Court.  Counsel submit that the adjournment request will be of interest to many other parties involved in the Board hearing, and propose a conference to hear submissions on the matter “at least with leading groups of submitters”.
  2. I have also been shown letters by solicitors for two other submitters supporting Mr McQueen’s adjournment request.
  3. Because of the large number of participants (899 have notified their wish to take part in the hearings), I doubt that it will be practicable to arrange a timely conference to hear submissions on postponing the hearing.  Nor do I consider it appropriate to confine participation in a conference to “leading groups of submitters”, however they might be identified.
  4. However, the Board should not consider the request until it knows the attitudes to postponing the hearing of all participants who wish to express them.  In the circumstances the practical course is for anyone who will be taking part in the hearing to inform the Board in writing of their attitude to the postponement request, and their reasons.   I consider that 8 working days should be allowed.
  5. So the Board will not consider Mr McQueen’s request until after 22 February 2008. It will then consider the memorandum by Mr McQueen’s counsel, and all expressions of attitude by other intended participants in writing (or by email attachment) received by the Board by no later than 4:00 pm on Friday 22 February 2008.
    Email:  tpcallin@mfe.govt.nz
    Postal Address:            Board of Inquiry
    Free Post Grid Upgrade Submissions
    PO Box 4405
    Hamilton East
    Hamilton 3247
  6. When it has done so, the Board might agree to postpone the hearing, or it might decline to do so.  Participants should not presume that the hearing will be postponed.  In the meanwhile the pre-hearing timetable is not amended or suspended.  Now the evidence for Transpower is available, submitters should complete their own evidence statements for punctual lodging with the Board by no later than 26 February 2008.

 

D F G Sheppard
Chairperson

11 February 2008.

Last updated: 6 May 2008