I only know the reason I have been to New Zealand 17 times is because of wild places like the Mokihinui. I am willing to bet thousands of other "contributors" spend ther money for the same reason. Wilderness, national treasures, once ruined, cannnot be replaced"...

Splendid! Next the Tatare, Callery Gorge (what Alpine fault?), Cook River, Haast River; I'm sure the energy companies have plenty of bribe money availabe. Oh, and what RMA? A few more Regional Council sackings will sort that out.

The Wild West is back!!

The Coast has always been exploited - pounamu, gold, timber, coal - and it all went over the hill or overseas, until I thought they were finally on a winner with tourism. At last, something they could keep for themselves. But, no, they're permitting that to be ravaged as well, even when a perfectly viable alternative to the Mokihinui is available on the Stockton Plateau.

The Greens want us to worry about emissions - we have a great wood fire that burns wood nicely - doesn't take any power... but they don't want carbon....so they want us to switch to power...but then don't want power generation? They need to make up their minds...me I'd like to burn wood and have no Dam.

TURN THE CONSUMER INTO A PRODUCER!!

It is very sad that so much natural beauty has to be destroyed needlesly by buidding big dams and big wind farms.

Solar power and wind turbines can easily be attached to one's house. Now there is sheets of transparent plastic that can be attached to the window pane that produces enough power to operate a refridgerator for a fraction of the cost of conventional solar panels.

So you are all probably asking why we can't go down to Bunnings or Mitre 10 to pick one of these goodies at a reasonable price?

To do so would pose a serious threat to the power monopolies who have a lot of investment at stake!! Jobs for the boys? or contracts to their cronies?

I am an American and have fished the Mokihinui many times with my friend Tony Busch from Nelson and Bill Reid from Wakefield. I will miss the rugged and pristine nature of this wilderness river. I am skeptical the "powers that be" have accurately concluded the periphial benefits of a dam outweigh the loss of nature's economic and timeless benefits. From across the ocean I vividly remember the sparkling clear water, the hospitality at the Seddonville pub, and the true wilderness experience of the Mokihinui River; and I can't wait to return. I am saddened and dubious that the sacrifice of such a great national treasure will somehow be more of an enduring benefit to the area - rather than the beautiful natural attraction that already exists forever...

The government should institute "Powerless Days" just like we had "Carless Days" way back to conserve fuel and the likes. This will no doubt help all you greenies save the power needed to cause the government to scrap the dam. All you greenies should register with the government and start your powerless days tomorrow. Better for you to actually DO SOMTHING than to protest and chin wag and do nothing to save significant power!

Ryan: consider perhaps that the problem is not that NZ "needs more power stations to keep the supply above the demand". How about we reduce the demand, and improve the efficiency of distribution networks, so that the existing supply is adequate? Your point about the west coast being the conservation conscience for the country is well taken. But consider also that many of the remaining free-running rivers in the country are on the west coast. Surely all New Zealanders have an equal right to want to preserve those for future generations? Coasters have a choice - they can say, oh well, Canterbury has ruined all of their rivers for the sake of dairy profits, and Aucklanders are demanding more and more power, so why shouldn't we just dam our remaining rivers? Or, they can take a proper West Coast stand against being bullied. Tourism is the real industry of the coast, because of the exceptional natural resources. Why would coasters give away their most precious resources, solely to fuel the big city?

Kate: did you actually read the decision? "Criteria set down by the commission"???? More like criteria set by Meridian. The Regional Council didn't have any criteria, they merely voted 2:1 to accept Meridians proposal and terms. And tell me, how is destroying a precious natural resource to fuel a short-term boost in consumption an innovative idea? Tell me, why would a tree-top walkway in the Hokitika Gorge be a big hit with tourists?? Because the gorge is a unique and beautiful place, (hmmm, sort of like the Mokihinui gorge) that's why! It wouldn't be if it was under water though, would it? Sounds like you should have presented against the Mokihinui dam - pity, the Hokitika could well be next on the hit list...

Oh the irony of greenies complaining about any and all new power projects from a computer...

What do you suggest we build for more power if we can't build Hydro Dams, Coal Plants, or Nuclear Plants? Huge Wind Farms, Solar Farms or Tidal Generators that will impact even larger areas of what greenies will undoubtedly claim is "conservation land"? Hydro power is far more efficient than Wind or Solar power so either come up with a better solution or stop complaining and turn of your PC.