Witness credibility questioned

TrustPower is challenging the standing of some witnesses who will present evidence at the Environment Court hearing called to consider whether the company's proposed multi-million dollar hydro scheme on the Wairau River should go ahead.

Counsel for TrustPower, Christian Whata of Russell McVeagh, said the company did not accept that some witnesses for appellants were experts on all matters addressed in their briefs.

The expert witnesses in question are Rod McKenzie, Roger Winter, Neil Deans and Peter Boyes for Fish&Game, and landowners John and Joan McLauchlan, Alison Parr and Ian Rogers.

Save the Wairau member avifauna expert David Melville and Mr Boyes also lodged personal submissions opposing the scheme.

But TrustPower has stated it does not believe the pair, along with Mr Deans for Fish&Game and Mr Winter and Mr McKenzie, are independent.

There would be no attempt to prevent these witnesses giving evidence, Mr Whata told The Marlborough Express. Rather, TrustPower's intention was to indicate that less weight should be given to evidence "that is not fully independent".

With the court now sitting, the witnesses did not want to comment on the issue. However, there was a feeling that questioning the credentials of people with deep-felt opposition to the scheme was to cut to the core of the right of community groups and individuals to be heard.

Mr Dean, Nelson Marlborough Fish&Game manager, said all expert witnesses understood Environment Court protocol that they must be open-minded when presenting evidence and responding to cross-examination.

Opponent Alison Parr of Wairau Valley echoed that view: "As landowners, we are called lay people," she said when presenting an overview of her case to the court.

"Whilst we are not, as Mr Whata correctly states, experts within this court we have been closely involved with this scheme for the last five years and have a very thorough understanding of the aspects which affect us personally.

"We are experts on our own lives, our relationship with our neighbours and local community and of community life in the Wairau Valley," Ms Parr said.

- The Marlborough Express

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