Request for Far North Solar Farm fast track application

Details of the request

All information held regarding any proposal by Far North Solar Farm Ltd (FNSF) to build a solar energy generation plant in Waipara, including any fast-track application(s) made, any accompanying documents, and any correspondence to or from FNSF regarding Waipara.

Please provide this information urgently under s.12(3) OIA 1982 for the following reasons:

1. It appears FNSF have applied for fast-track approval for this proposal. That means it may be currently being considered by Ministers for referral to the Expert Panel.
2. It is important that, in making a referral decision, Ministers are informed of any factual errors or misleading information in applications they are considering, or their decisions risk being ill-founded and flawed.
3. There is well-founded basis for concern that information provided to MfE by FNSF may contain errors or misleading information, because:
   1. Information about this proposal provided by FNSF to Hurunui District Council has contained numerous factual errors; and
   2. The directors of FNSF have previously directed and been the only shareholders in a solar company that received an official Warning by the Commerce Commission in respect of making misleading claims about solar energy:

See Warning letter to Auckland Commercial Solar Ltd, previously Country Connect Solar Limited t/a Supercharged Energy [PDF, 2MB]