Applicant
TrustPower Limited
Case number(s)
200610053
Decision date
Type
Decision
Decision number200610053
Application number200610079
Date10 May 2006
Offeror/applicantTrustPower Limited
Ultimate applicant beneficial ownership35.18 percent - New Zealand, Infratil Limited
28.56 percent - New Zealand, Tauranga Energy Consumers Trust
23.77 percent - United States of America, Alliant Energy Corporation
12.49 percent - New Zealand, New Zealand Public
Beneficial overseas ownership 
- Asset current0 percent
- Asset proposed23.77 percent
- Share currentN/A
- Share proposedN/A
Offeree(s)/seller(s)Speirs (Gordon Harry and Janette Marie) of New Zealand
Business activitiesElectricity, Gas & Water Supply - Electricity & Gas Supply
Details of land involved6.262 hectares of freehold situated at Arnold Valley Road, Kaimata, West Coast being CT WS8C/1177 (Westland Registry).
Regions involvedWest Coast
Total considerationCONFIDENTIAL
Consent soughtTo acquire an interest in land which, either alone or together with any associated land of that type, is or includes non-urban land and exceeds 5 hectares in area.
Rationale

The application has been approved as it met the criteria.

The Overseas Investment Office is satisfied that the individuals with control of the Applicant collectively have business experience and acumen relevant to the overseas investment, and that the Applicant has demonstrated financial commitment towards the overseas investment. The Overseas Investment Office is further satisfied that each individual that exercises control over the Applicant is of good character and is not an individual of the kind referred to in section 7(1) of the Immigration Act 1987.

The Applicant (TrustPower) proposes to acquire the subject land as part of the development of the Arnold Valley Hydro-electric Power Scheme (Arnold Valley Scheme), which will comprise a new intake dam, canal, flumes, head pond, regulation pond, and a power station, situated at the Arnold River on the West Coast of the South Island. TrustPower currently owns and operates an existing hydro-electric power station on the Arnold River, which will be decommissioned and demolished following construction of the Arnold Valley Scheme. The subject property is being acquired to implement the Arnold Valley Scheme.

The Arnold Valley Hydro-electric Power Scheme proposal is likely to result in the following benefits:

  1. the creation of new job opportunities in New Zealand;
  2. enhanced domestic services to the West Coast region through an increased security of electricity supply;
  3. greater efficiencies in electricity transmission through a decrease in transmission losses; and
  4. the introduction of additional investment for development purposes.
ContactJoe Windmeyer
Russell McVeagh
PO Box 8
AUCKLAND