More power to Christchurch, or not.

First, the good news: Meridian Energy's proposed North Bank tunnel hydro scheme could generate enough electricity to power Christchurch. [Hat tip AB]

And now the bad news: It might not be commissioned until 2016. Most of that time will be spent in pursuit of resource consents -- and much of the time spent by Christchurch environmentalists 'tween now and then will be spent on opposing those consents.

Once again when it comes to NZ power production, the large print giveth and the small print taketh away.