Govt party to raft down Motu River

Press, 11 February 1983, Page 2

Govt party to raft down Motu River

»PA Wellington ' Two Government Minis- ' ters and the Government - caucus energy committee 2will take a two-hour, 10km “raft trip today down the River, marked for possible hydro development but ■ renowned for its wild and scenic aspects.

The Minister of Energy, -Mr Birch, and the Deputy I Prime Minister, Mr Mac- ' Intyre, will spend a further -two hours rafting on the 1 river after their colleagues •leave,' and Mr Birch will return on Saturday to inspect -the river’s lower reaches by Jet boat. > Mr Birch said yesterday "that he wanted to inspect the river first-hand because of its development potential and its wild and scenic renown. He also wanted to see

what had already been done in evaluating the hydro-elec-tric potential of the river. “The river’s recreational attractiveness, plus its potential for hydro-electric development, are of wide public interest, especially now that a national conservation order has been recommended for part of the river,” he said. The order was recommended by the National Water and Soil Conservation Authority. “This inspection will give me a chance to address these issues first-hand,” Mr Birch said. The Government caucus energy committee comprises Messrs R. L. Bell (Gisborne), P. R. Burdon (Fendalton), G. Lee (Hauraki), W. R. Austin (Awarua), and D. L. Kidd (Marlborough).