Meridian is committed to protecting its existing assets and potential development opportunities. We continue to have an input into planning document processes in the North and South Islands, wherever these processes have the potential to affect the value and management of our existing assets and development aspirations.

The key planning document processes Meridian was involved in during 2006/07 are:

• Canterbury Regional Council's Natural Resources Regional Plan

  Meridian has been actively involved in hearings on this plan to ensure that the outcomes best recognise our existing asset management programmes and development projects. This includes asset management of the Waitaki Power Scheme in general, and water quality issues in the Waitaki catchment including those that relate to the North Bank Tunnel development and the Hunter Downs irrigation scheme.

• Combined Wairarapa District Council Plan

  Meridian made further submissions to this plan during 2006/07. We want to ensure that the plan allows for wind energy development and actively recognises the benefits of renewable energy generation.

  Meridian also has an interest in the potential irrigation development opportunities that exist in the Wairarapa region.

• Taranaki Regional Policy Strategy

  Meridian has an interest in potential future wind farm energy development opportunities in the Taranaki region. The aim of our involvement in this strategy is to ensure that it recognises the need for renewable energy and the importance of the sustainable use of natural and physical resources.

• Department of Conservation's West Coast Conservation Management Strategy

  We have actively engaged with the Department of Conservation at the draft stage of this planning process to ensure that the strategy takes into account issues such as climate change and the need for electricity generation on the West Coast. Meridian‘s interests particularly relate to the Mokihinui hydro proposal.

• Environment Southland's Freshwater Management Plan

  Although Meridian is generally happy with the Council decisions made in relation to this plan, we have lodged appeals to the Environment Court. There are several matters on which we would like to see more clarity.