Business NZ energy policy head John Carnegie said the new policy was a "thoughtful reassessment of the NZ Power proposal''. Energy spokesman Gareth Hughes said the goal did not necessarily spell the end for the coal-fired Huntly power station or other fossil fuel plants. "If there is a drought year, we may need to rely on some fossil fuel generation. Greens co-leader James Shaw denied the NZ Power policy was scrapped because it was unpopular. Households earning less than $50,000 would get a discount on their winter power bills under the Green Party's energy policy.

Source: Otago Daily Times April 20, 2017 22:41 UTC