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5:30 pm, September 10th, 2025 - 15 comments
Categories: Daily review -
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Daily review is also your post.
This provides Standardistas the opportunity to review events of the day.
The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy).
Don’t forget to be kind to each other …
Got to give credit to Mercury Energy for going all-in with renewables.
There was Kaiwera Downs wind farm, Kaiwaikawe wind farm, Turitea Wind Farm, and Nga Tamariki Geothermal.
Now this one getting its skates on in partnership with local Taupo iwi:
First supercritical geothermal site chosen at Rotokawa near Taupō – NZ Herald
A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between Tauhara North No.2 Trust, the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, and Mercury NZ which operates the Rotokawa geothermal power station, to explore the potential of supercritical geothermal energy at the site.
And then next one they have ready to go with a further 50 turbines is Mahinerangi which is going to be nearly as big as Palmerston North's Turitea.
And now let me hold my nose and accept that the new Taupo geothermal exploration one was with central government funding from Shane Jones.
Zero numbers on what energy this exploratory venture might produce. Meanwhile, Lake Onslow:
https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/122319866/4-billion-lake-onslow-pumped-hydro-scheme-could-tip-electricity-market-on-head
So much power it left the industry shocked. Pity the poor consumer.
Lake Onslow for $17 billion Mutton….now $20 billion doubtless.
Meanwhile over the last 5 years solar with attached grid battery storage has got much cheaper and technologically better. The power can be generated closer to where it is needed. No contest.
I don't know where the $20 billion figure comes from because you haven't linked to it.
My point was that Lake Onslow terrified the private sector because they could only dream of providing such a robust and resilient asset to the people of NZ.
Some call it socialism, I call it responsible and visionary governance.
Fair points Mutton.
I'm all for state owned power facilities. I have posted several times on TS saying that Labour (if elected) should set up a SOE called KikiSolar and invest some serious money immediately in this. NZ's solar take up has been pathetic to date.
Here is a link from 2023 saying Onslow would cost almost $16 billion, so sorry I was slightly out.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/486111/lake-onslow-pumped-hydro-scheme-cost-estimate-rises-almost-300-percent-to-15-point-7b
And maybe Onslow might still have a life…
https://www.odt.co.nz/regions/central-otago/consortium-quietly-gauging-interest-shelved-lake-onslow-scheme
Although that article raises more questions than it provides answers. The front person may / does have some chops, who's behind it is the big question.
Onslow is far better than littering the country with more batteries, build it once build it right it'll last for many years
Forever, just replacement plant. It will never silt up, unlike some hydro schemes
Sadly, the current approach is opening the door for more private firms to enter the market.
https://newsroom.co.nz/2025/07/18/solar-farms-in-investment-pipeline-could-triple-nzs-power-capacity/
As usual First class Mountain Tui. Regards Trish and Norm.
Can't accept this outrage about the Marokopa documentary while multiple news outlets continually post images of the kids and the campsite and the quad bike 24/7.
Considering the original intent of the documentary, it would handle the whole saga a lot more responsibly than NZ Police and short form broadcast media ever would.
Julie Christie is interested in the money from clicks, not the victims.
see that big read banner at the top of the page? That means we can't talk about the case here.
Sorry Weka.
no worries. The issue is apparently about discussion about the kids.