The Mokihinui River in Buller has been identified as one of New Zealand's most valuable wild rivers. It flows from Kahurangi National Park and passes through a magnificent gorge. We oppose Meridian Energy building an 85m dam on the Mokihinui River gorge.
What's at stake
The Mokihinui River is NZ's seventh most significant river for its biodiversity values. It is home to twelve species of native fish including the chronically endangered and endemic longfinned eel. A large healthy population of longfins live in the Mokihinui, which is one of the few unpolluted and undammed habitats left. The eel population will be disastrously affected by the planned construction of a 85m high dam and the drowning of 330 hectares of native rainforest. The dam will prevent the eels and other native fish migrating to sea to breed and the elvers returning to the upper reaches of the river where they live and mature.
Take Action
Now that submissions have closed on Meridian's proposal the best action is to contact the Minister of Conservation and ask that he:
- Declines any request by Meridian Energy for a concession to remove native forest and flood the gorge, and decline any landswap involving the Mokihinui.
- Decline the application to run the transmission line across conservation land and especially through the Ngakawau Ecological Area and the Recommended Areas for Protection on the Stockton Plateau.
You can email the Minister at Kate.Wilkinson@parliament.govt.nz. It is very effective to write a letter - send freepost to:
Minister of Conservation
Hon Kate Wilkinson
Parliament Buildings
Wellington.
Phoning or visiting your local MP is very effective too.
Links
Press Releases:
- Greens reject Meridian's proposed land swap
- Greens uncover Meridian's secret report on Mokihinui
- Aquatic ecosystem threat highlighted at Mokihinui River
- Minister ignores DoC's inconvenient submission against dam
- Meridian threatens eels with dam-nation
On Frogblog:
Other groups' campaigns:
