Priority is given to powerlines – govt strikes another blow for the economy while Jones fends off a fingers offensive
Tree-huggers may well accuse the Government of giving them the fingers, after Energy Minister Simeon Brown announced new measures to protect powerlines from trees, rather than measures to protect trees from powerlines.
It can be no coincidence, surely, that this has been announced at the same as Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is being subjected to a greenie campaign described by The Post as “confrontational”.
The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) New Zealand has launched advertisements featuring a fish finger and calling for 30% of New Zealand’s ocean to be placed within Marine Protected Areas by 2030.
According to The Post, WWF-NZ’s chief executive Kayla Kingdon-Bebb has accused Jones of putting export-driven economic growth ahead of the marine environment, pointing to a decision to scrap plans for the Kermadec Rangitāhua Ocean Sanctuary, which would get New Zealand halfway to the goal, protecting 15% of its waters.
Jones has also removed protection for the world’s rarest sea lion, harpooned proposals to reduce bottom trawling in the South Pacific, and asked for changes to the roll-out of cameras on commercial fishing boats.
The campaign is “tongue in cheek,” she said. It features a fish finger rising from the ocean, mimicking the offensive gesture of extending a middle finger in a closed fist.
Slogans include: “Hey Shane, this is for you … Give Shane Jones the finger”; “Let’s kick up a stink”; and “We think our Government is acting fishy.”
Plainly it is unreasonable to target Jones, who is the Minister of Oceans and Fisheries, not the Minister of Fish.
A fishery (for the benefit of WWF finger waggers) is defined as
The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) New Zealand has launched advertisements featuring a fish finger and calling for 30% of New Zealand’s ocean to be placed within Marine Protected Areas by 2030.
According to The Post, WWF-NZ’s chief executive Kayla Kingdon-Bebb has accused Jones of putting export-driven economic growth ahead of the marine environment, pointing to a decision to scrap plans for the Kermadec Rangitāhua Ocean Sanctuary, which would get New Zealand halfway to the goal, protecting 15% of its waters.
Jones has also removed protection for the world’s rarest sea lion, harpooned proposals to reduce bottom trawling in the South Pacific, and asked for changes to the roll-out of cameras on commercial fishing boats.
The campaign is “tongue in cheek,” she said. It features a fish finger rising from the ocean, mimicking the offensive gesture of extending a middle finger in a closed fist.
Slogans include: “Hey Shane, this is for you … Give Shane Jones the finger”; “Let’s kick up a stink”; and “We think our Government is acting fishy.”
Plainly it is unreasonable to target Jones, who is the Minister of Oceans and Fisheries, not the Minister of Fish.
A fishery (for the benefit of WWF finger waggers) is defined as
the occupation, industry, or season of taking fish or other sea animals (such as sponges, shrimp, or seals) : FISHING
Jones has appropriately rejoined that the coalition was elected to prioritise industrial growth and export receipts.
This is reflected in Simeon Brown’s ensuring lines firms can take action to remove vegetation from obstructing local powerlines. The change will ensure greater security of electricity supply in local communities, particularly during severe weather events.
That announcement is accompanied on the government’s official website by news of an ACT party triumph in the health domain: Pseudoephedrine is back on the shelves, available for purchase by the general public to protect them from winter illness. Mind you, here at Point of Order we find a wee dram of Scotch is just as effective.
Latest from the Beehive
20 MAY 2024
Pseudoephedrine can now be purchased by the general public to protect them from winter illness, after the coalition government worked swiftly to change the law and oversaw a fast approval process by Medsafe.
18 MAY 2024
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has announced that the Government will make it easier for lines firms to take action to remove vegetation from obstructing local powerlines.
Wairarapa Moana ki Pouakani were the top winners at this year’s Ahuwhenua Trophy awards recognising the best in Māori dairy farming.
17 MAY 2024
“On the 27th of March, I sought assurances from the Chief Executive, Department of Internal Affairs, that the Department’s correct processes and policies had been followed in regards to a passport application which received media attention,” says Minister of Internal Affairs
The headline on that final item was somewhat teasing. What’s that all about?
It harks back on March 27, when Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden sought assurances from the Chief Executive of the Department of Internal Affairs that it had followed the correct processes and policies in regards to a passport application which received media attention.
She had raised her concerns after being made aware of online social media activity by the Department’s Deputy Chief Executive (DCE) Maria Robertson. Specifically, she wanted to know about interactions with international DJ Fred Again’s post for assistance in obtaining a passport for a New Zealander.
“I wanted to be assured that there was no breach of privacy and preferential treatment given to the applicant by the DCE and asked the Chief Executive to examine this.
“I have now received the report and I am pleased to see that the correct processing procedures were followed, and that no preferential treatment was given. The report does however identify that errors were made by the DCE around the privacy of the applicant. However, the Privacy Commissioner has assured that no feasible harm occurred as a result of this privacy breach.”
Simeon Brown’s initiative to protect power lines from those bloody trees that are growing all over the country will ensure greater security of electricity supply in local communities, particularly during severe weather events.
“Trees or parts of trees falling on power lines is one of our most common causes of electricity outages – particularly in high winds,” Mr Brown says.
“During Cyclone Gabrielle, out-of-zone tree outages interrupted electricity supply to 68,000 households. These interruptions and outages underscored how important it is to proactively manage risks to local electricity infrastructure. Many of the outages experienced during the cyclone could have been prevented if these proposed regulations were in place.”
We don’t suppose much can be done to stop cyclones.
But amendments to the Electricity (Hazards from Trees) Regulations 2003 will target trees directly surrounding existing Growth Limit Zone (GLZ) by creating a “clear to the sky” zone to prevent vegetation hanging over lines. The Regulations will also extend the “notice zone” by one metre around the GLZ. If vegetation enters this zone, the lines owners will be able to alert tree owners about the risk of the encroaching vegetation.
Under current regulations, trees and bushes can overhand or tunnel around lines, which creates a heightened risk of branches causing outages. The change will mean that lines will have a “clear to the sky” zone that will be unobstructed by trees,” Mr Brown says.
“Repairing damages lines is a costly and time-consuming exercise. By introducing the “clear to the sky” zone and increasing the notification zone by one metre, we will both protect lines from damage, and reduce costs to lines companies,” Brown said.
Electrifying large parts of the economy will require large investments in transmission and local lines. Protecting electricity lines from vegetation encroaching or trees falling is vital to ensure electricity supply remains reliable, and safe.
The amendments to the Electricity (Hazards from Trees) Regulations 2003 Regulations are expected to be Gazetted in September 2024.
Point of Order is a blog focused on politics and the economy run by veteran newspaper reporters Bob Edlin and Ian Templeton
2 comments:
The CEO of the WWF is a Canadian Green person. A Genter clone.
Fish fingers for Jones is a juvenile reaction.
Perhaps Kayla Kingdon-Bebb should be naming and shaming the Iwi who refused to countenance the reserve around the Kermadec's well before Shane got involved.
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