Where the collapse leaves customers is unsure at this time, but the government will likely have to write off $115 million lent to the company. SolarZero was purchased by Blackrock in 2022 (Blackrock is the world’s largest asset manager with US$11 trillion under management). Some are now calling on Blackrock to repay the taxpayer money advanced to SolarZero.
Letterbox understands the Green Party has shoulder-tapped a high-profile candidate to contest the Whangarei mayoralty, and work has begun to build their profile.
In February a commissioner granted
the subdivision consent subject to conditions, including cultural and heritage
requirements, They said, “The evidence was very clear and specific in
relation to the Onoke Cone but not persuasive enough to prevent subdivision of
this lower land for residential subdivision and occupation”.
That decision is now being
appealed to the Environment Court. The grounds for the appeal include it is
inconsistent with Maori values and does not take into account the principles of
the Treaty of Waitangi because the Council did not provide translation services
during the hearing.
Despite the appeal, Green Party leader, Clohe Swarbrick, is reported to have encouraged the hapu to occupy the site.
She promised, “to help get more Green-aligned people into local government positions next year”.
Swarbrick’s comments are a useful reminder that radical elements target local council elections and will be doing so again next year.
The best defence against radicals taking over our local councils is for the public to say “No” to extremism, and support candidates who are prepared to represent the public rather than use the position of privilege to impose their ideology upon others.