Energy Minister Shane Jones believes the situation of two potential mill closures is 'hideous.'

Winstone's Ohakune pulp and timber mills could shut - putting 300 jobs in the small central North Island town on the line, as energy bills have increased significantly for the company in recent years.

Open Country Dairy, the second-biggest player in New Zealand’s $26 billion dairy export industry, says action is needed now on New Zealand's electricity supply.

Chair Laurie Margrain told Kerre Woodham that it can’t be solved overnight, but we’ve just sleepwalked into it for years and years.

He said that we need to get the settings correct because without the energy assets or availability of energy, we won’t be able to attract international investment into New Zealand.

LISTEN ABOVE

Energy Minister Shane Jones believes the situation of two potential mill closures is 'hideous.' 
Winstone's Ohakune pulp and timber mills could shut - putting 300 jobs in the small central North Island town on the line, as energy bills have increased significantly for the company in recent years. 
Open Country Dairy, the second-biggest player in New Zealand’s $26 billion dairy export industry, says action is needed now on New Zealand's electricity supply. 
Chair Laurie Margrain told Kerre Woodham that it can’t be solved overnight, but we’ve just sleepwalked into it for years and years. 
He said that we need to get the settings correct because without the energy assets or availability of energy, we won’t be able to attract international investment into New Zealand. 
LISTEN ABOVE

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Laurie Margrain: Open Country Dairy Chair on the call for action in regards to New Zealand's electricity supply

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/755708e2-2e3d-4714-bb2c-b1c401827163/transcript

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