1 00:00:00,480 --> 00:00:03,680 Speaker 1: And the battle for competition between Northlanders and Transpower has 2 00:00:03,760 --> 00:00:07,080 Speaker 1: stepped up a notch. Northland MP Grant McCullum has written 3 00:00:07,080 --> 00:00:10,840 Speaker 1: to Transpower saying it has a moral duty to provide 4 00:00:10,880 --> 00:00:15,000 Speaker 1: compensation after one hundred thousand Northlanders lost power because of 5 00:00:15,080 --> 00:00:19,639 Speaker 1: transmission power toppled over in June. Alternatively, Grant McCullum says 6 00:00:19,640 --> 00:00:23,720 Speaker 1: Transpower should consider a discounted transmission charge for all Northlanders 7 00:00:23,760 --> 00:00:27,639 Speaker 1: for a year. He's with us this evening, good evening, Hey. 8 00:00:27,480 --> 00:00:29,520 Speaker 2: Good eating Jackson, the lovely chat of a high waii. 9 00:00:30,360 --> 00:00:33,440 Speaker 1: Oh gorgeous. You're in paradise? Is there power there this evening? 10 00:00:33,440 --> 00:00:36,480 Speaker 2: Grants, Well, it's a light time, so that's a good sign. 11 00:00:36,640 --> 00:00:38,479 Speaker 1: That is a very good sign. Yeah, it makes a 12 00:00:38,560 --> 00:00:41,200 Speaker 1: nice change. So have you heard anything from Transpower yet? 13 00:00:41,840 --> 00:00:43,839 Speaker 2: No. I have not had any response yet. But that 14 00:00:43,920 --> 00:00:45,880 Speaker 2: seems you pass the course of them to a degree. 15 00:00:45,920 --> 00:00:48,159 Speaker 2: So I wait, with Beita breath, just. 16 00:00:48,640 --> 00:00:51,120 Speaker 1: Just talk us through why you think they have a 17 00:00:51,120 --> 00:00:54,560 Speaker 1: moral obligation. It was a contractor working for Transpower who 18 00:00:54,600 --> 00:00:56,080 Speaker 1: didn't have the nuts on the bolts right. 19 00:00:57,280 --> 00:01:01,400 Speaker 2: Absolutely, yes, But ultimately they're responsible for the contract and 20 00:01:01,400 --> 00:01:03,320 Speaker 2: and the reason I feel they have a moral obligation 21 00:01:03,400 --> 00:01:05,480 Speaker 2: is this was not an active god. It was an 22 00:01:05,480 --> 00:01:10,840 Speaker 2: active incompetence and and everyone just shakes their head at 23 00:01:10,880 --> 00:01:13,600 Speaker 2: what happened. And it's caused a lot of costs, a 24 00:01:13,640 --> 00:01:16,000 Speaker 2: lot of people, a lot of money, a lot of 25 00:01:16,000 --> 00:01:18,600 Speaker 2: small businesses and orphans had it pretty rough up here. 26 00:01:18,840 --> 00:01:20,880 Speaker 2: And it was almost like the last straw with road 27 00:01:21,000 --> 00:01:24,560 Speaker 2: closures and storm damage and so forth, and and that, 28 00:01:24,760 --> 00:01:27,360 Speaker 2: and and it's just not fair for the businesses of 29 00:01:27,440 --> 00:01:30,440 Speaker 2: Northland yet to be at the cost of the incompetence 30 00:01:30,760 --> 00:01:31,520 Speaker 2: of Transpower. 31 00:01:31,640 --> 00:01:35,280 Speaker 1: So took us through what your constituents have reported to 32 00:01:35,319 --> 00:01:37,480 Speaker 1: you in terms of their losses. Because your letter to 33 00:01:37,520 --> 00:01:41,480 Speaker 1: Transpower says that one business lost almost half a million dollars. 34 00:01:42,160 --> 00:01:44,200 Speaker 2: That that's correct, Yes, one of the one of the 35 00:01:44,280 --> 00:01:46,160 Speaker 2: more substantial businesses in the far North. 36 00:01:47,000 --> 00:01:48,880 Speaker 1: And ask you that. 37 00:01:50,360 --> 00:01:53,680 Speaker 2: J and L the significant the big mill to the 38 00:01:53,720 --> 00:01:56,640 Speaker 2: mills up there. They just shut down for five days. Yeah, 39 00:01:56,840 --> 00:01:59,920 Speaker 2: and that's big. It's a really big cost. And other 40 00:02:00,120 --> 00:02:02,320 Speaker 2: big businesses in north and had to shut down for 41 00:02:02,400 --> 00:02:05,800 Speaker 2: longer than the twenty four hours. So that because they 42 00:02:06,040 --> 00:02:09,040 Speaker 2: know you had the cement works Portland Cement Works. He 43 00:02:09,080 --> 00:02:13,800 Speaker 2: had Fonterra at the plants amongst and color engineering amongst others. 44 00:02:14,160 --> 00:02:16,679 Speaker 2: They shut down for longest so they weren't using the 45 00:02:16,919 --> 00:02:19,639 Speaker 2: high power users, so the rest of us could have power. 46 00:02:20,200 --> 00:02:23,400 Speaker 2: So and that's that's where the big losses came. And 47 00:02:23,440 --> 00:02:26,000 Speaker 2: I know some of them at their excess is more 48 00:02:26,040 --> 00:02:26,639 Speaker 2: than their loss. 49 00:02:26,919 --> 00:02:28,720 Speaker 1: Yeah right, I mean you you would hope that for 50 00:02:28,760 --> 00:02:30,920 Speaker 1: those big for the big firms, right, they would have 51 00:02:30,919 --> 00:02:32,960 Speaker 1: some sort of insurance arrangement that allowed them. But it's 52 00:02:32,960 --> 00:02:35,080 Speaker 1: probably the probably the sms, right, they're going to be 53 00:02:35,160 --> 00:02:36,359 Speaker 1: that are going to be hurt the most. 54 00:02:37,240 --> 00:02:40,480 Speaker 2: Absolutely. I taught at the market that last weekend in 55 00:02:40,560 --> 00:02:43,280 Speaker 2: Kenny Kitty, and the guy talking to a guy there 56 00:02:43,280 --> 00:02:45,800 Speaker 2: who sells pizzas and stuff, he lost twelve undred bucks 57 00:02:45,840 --> 00:02:48,400 Speaker 2: worth of stock and so forth. Or in preparation he 58 00:02:48,480 --> 00:02:51,720 Speaker 2: had for his evenings work, all the stuff he had, 59 00:02:51,840 --> 00:02:54,640 Speaker 2: he lost all the day and everything. And that costs 60 00:02:54,760 --> 00:02:57,079 Speaker 2: a lot of money. And there's it's all relative, right, 61 00:02:57,360 --> 00:02:59,480 Speaker 2: But we should not they should not have to be 62 00:02:59,520 --> 00:03:01,520 Speaker 2: at the cost, nor should they have to be at 63 00:03:01,520 --> 00:03:03,840 Speaker 2: the cost of the excess or the hassle of going 64 00:03:03,840 --> 00:03:06,080 Speaker 2: to an insurance company. I think this is an easy 65 00:03:06,120 --> 00:03:07,079 Speaker 2: solution for everybody. 66 00:03:07,120 --> 00:03:11,320 Speaker 1: So do you reckon if Transpower agreed to this, then 67 00:03:11,600 --> 00:03:14,880 Speaker 1: that would mean that people wouldn't be able to go 68 00:03:14,919 --> 00:03:17,360 Speaker 1: and make insurance claims. They wouldn't have to pay the excess, 69 00:03:17,360 --> 00:03:18,880 Speaker 1: but they also wouldn't be making a claim. Is that 70 00:03:18,960 --> 00:03:19,800 Speaker 1: how you said this working? 71 00:03:20,480 --> 00:03:24,120 Speaker 2: Well? Most likely ultimately people can still and actor as individuals. 72 00:03:24,400 --> 00:03:27,240 Speaker 2: But if Transpower do this, they would not be obligated 73 00:03:27,280 --> 00:03:29,919 Speaker 2: to do it. This would be obligated to do anything 74 00:03:30,320 --> 00:03:33,520 Speaker 2: as it happens, as far as I understand it. But morally, 75 00:03:33,560 --> 00:03:37,960 Speaker 2: by damn they they own Northland. Right. Whether individuals want 76 00:03:38,000 --> 00:03:40,280 Speaker 2: to pursue direct claims or not, that's over to them. 77 00:03:40,760 --> 00:03:43,600 Speaker 2: But this is an opportunity for all norful this to 78 00:03:43,600 --> 00:03:46,760 Speaker 2: get something back because everyone was affected, whether it was 79 00:03:47,120 --> 00:03:49,520 Speaker 2: your people at home and to had their whole their 80 00:03:49,600 --> 00:03:54,720 Speaker 2: day interrupted and the cold showers or whatever, all that 81 00:03:54,760 --> 00:03:57,080 Speaker 2: sort of thing. So that way everyone gets benefits because 82 00:03:57,120 --> 00:03:58,040 Speaker 2: everyone uses power. 83 00:03:58,120 --> 00:04:00,480 Speaker 1: Yeah right, and so talk to us, how how you 84 00:04:00,520 --> 00:04:03,520 Speaker 1: think that the discount would actually work. Would it be 85 00:04:03,560 --> 00:04:04,480 Speaker 1: like a percentage thing? 86 00:04:05,280 --> 00:04:08,640 Speaker 2: Yeah? Well, they they they charged so much a unit 87 00:04:08,680 --> 00:04:11,760 Speaker 2: of power to transmit the power up here, and we 88 00:04:11,880 --> 00:04:14,880 Speaker 2: just lower that cost and then and then the retailers 89 00:04:14,880 --> 00:04:17,799 Speaker 2: will pass it on. And I heard your comments earlier 90 00:04:17,800 --> 00:04:22,240 Speaker 2: of someone's comments low behold any retailer that refused to 91 00:04:22,279 --> 00:04:24,719 Speaker 2: pass it on or didn't will I think that would 92 00:04:24,720 --> 00:04:26,800 Speaker 2: be not be very good pr for them. 93 00:04:27,040 --> 00:04:29,640 Speaker 1: No, no, it wouldn't. So you're a national EMPA. G 94 00:04:29,640 --> 00:04:30,520 Speaker 1: aren't You're in government? 95 00:04:30,520 --> 00:04:30,760 Speaker 2: Correct? 96 00:04:31,000 --> 00:04:33,360 Speaker 1: Can you do more about this than just writing a letter? 97 00:04:34,480 --> 00:04:38,159 Speaker 2: Ultimately, as you would realize, transpowers and the SOE, so 98 00:04:38,240 --> 00:04:40,839 Speaker 2: they operate at arms length from the government, so speak. 99 00:04:41,160 --> 00:04:43,640 Speaker 2: So they've got an independent board and a c with 100 00:04:43,720 --> 00:04:46,120 Speaker 2: a CEO, and that's who I've written to, and so 101 00:04:46,520 --> 00:04:49,360 Speaker 2: can we directly tell them to instruct them? No, it's 102 00:04:49,400 --> 00:04:52,120 Speaker 2: over to them to actually do it. That's my understanding. 103 00:04:52,120 --> 00:04:53,440 Speaker 2: It's how the SOE model works. 104 00:04:53,480 --> 00:04:55,279 Speaker 1: What does Sime and Brown think of the suggestion? 105 00:04:56,120 --> 00:04:58,960 Speaker 2: Well, he encouraged me to write to be a good 106 00:04:59,000 --> 00:05:01,720 Speaker 2: locally m P and right on their behalf. But ultimately 107 00:05:02,000 --> 00:05:07,680 Speaker 2: he's he's like he is a minister, but he's he's. 108 00:05:06,760 --> 00:05:07,280 Speaker 1: Going to care. 109 00:05:08,400 --> 00:05:10,600 Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah, yeah, he can't control what the board's here. 110 00:05:10,760 --> 00:05:13,200 Speaker 1: No, no, no, he certainly can't. You know what grant 111 00:05:13,680 --> 00:05:16,400 Speaker 1: The thing is that the person who is usually in 112 00:05:16,440 --> 00:05:18,719 Speaker 1: the slot on newstalk's He'd Be. Heather has had a 113 00:05:18,720 --> 00:05:20,960 Speaker 1: bit of a back and forth. Shall we say when 114 00:05:21,000 --> 00:05:24,120 Speaker 1: it comes to Transpower? I can I think you know 115 00:05:24,200 --> 00:05:27,040 Speaker 1: we're all about comby our moments in this business. How 116 00:05:27,080 --> 00:05:30,479 Speaker 1: about this? How about Transpower agrees to your suggestion all 117 00:05:30,520 --> 00:05:33,800 Speaker 1: Northlanders get discounted transmission fees for a year. But how 118 00:05:33,839 --> 00:05:37,919 Speaker 1: about the boss of Transpower announces this on Heather Duplicity 119 00:05:37,960 --> 00:05:40,520 Speaker 1: Allen's show on news Talks He'd Be. Wouldn't they be perfect? 120 00:05:40,600 --> 00:05:44,000 Speaker 1: Then everyone can come back together absolutely perfect. 121 00:05:44,000 --> 00:05:46,000 Speaker 2: That's exactly what they should do, and then suddenly all 122 00:05:46,040 --> 00:05:48,400 Speaker 2: will be forgiven that there won't be any be no 123 00:05:48,440 --> 00:05:49,320 Speaker 2: more clown music. 124 00:05:51,240 --> 00:05:53,560 Speaker 1: Were careful, Grant, We're going to reserve the right to 125 00:05:53,880 --> 00:05:55,920 Speaker 1: make any any decisions when it comes to the production 126 00:05:56,040 --> 00:05:58,000 Speaker 1: music on our show. Hey, thank you so much, you 127 00:05:58,080 --> 00:06:01,800 Speaker 1: take care. Great to chat. That is Norfolk MP Grant mccoon. 128 00:06:02,480 --> 00:06:05,680 Speaker 1: For more from Hither Duplessy Allen Drive, Listen live to 129 00:06:05,760 --> 00:06:08,799 Speaker 1: News Talks a B from four pm weekdays, or follow 130 00:06:08,839 --> 00:06:10,600 Speaker 1: the podcast on iHeartRadio.