New Zealand’s Ministers for Energy and Environment have assured that despite New Zealand’s power supply problems, the Government will not be over-riding residents concerns when it comes to the development of Project Aqua, a US$718M scheme proposed by Meridian Energy.

The project proposes the construction of six hydro stations on the Waitaki river.

The ministers said any decision would conform to the Resource Management Act principles, and thatcentral government politicians would not make the final decision on water consents for the scheme.