Whitewater NZ, F&B, DOC appeal Mōkihinui dam

2010-04-30T10:20:23+12:00

Whitewater NZ have submitted an appeal to the Environment Court over the consent granted to Meridian Energy for a dam on the Mōkihinui River. The appeal seeks that the consents are not granted due the complete loss of kayaking amenity with no mitigation. The scheme does not promote sustainable management (because no one is making new rivers). The appeal points out that there is no bond for ultimate removal of the dam, and that the dam is unnecessary due to the Dobson and Stockton schemes that have already received consents. Forest & Bird are appealing against the “greatest flooding of conservation land in New Zealand history.” DOC have also appealed the decision arguing the decision does not recognise significant environmental effects on the river, forests and threatened native wildlife.

Conservation