New Zealand: Low lakes pose risk of power cuts

The security of the electricity supply is on a knife-edge and power cuts are possible this winter.

Energy Minister David Parker yesterday admitted the supply situation was becoming dire, although he still believed the country would get through winter without blackouts.


Earlier yesterday, however, Meridian Energy chief executive Keith Turner told a select committee at Parliament that New Zealand would avoid cold showers and brown-outs only if nothing else went wrong.

“It is a very fine margin, finer than I have seen it in my career,” Turner said.

He has spent the past 39 years in the electricity industry.

“There is no question that New Zealand … has under-invested in the (electricity) grid for 20 years,” he said.

Stuff