The Ruataniwha Dam

I have previously reported on this HERE

Smith accused of misleading Parliament

The Labour Party has launched a privileges complaint against Conservation Minister Nick Smith, saying he deliberately misled Parliament over his handling of a submission for the proposed Ruataniwha Dam

Stuff.

16 October, 2013

Last month, Smith denied allegations that he had meddled in the submission process for the Hawke's Bay dam project.

The allegations were centred on a 32-page draft submission prepared by the Department of Conservation. It raised concerns over the science being used to mitigate water pollution in the Tukituki catchment.

The submission was pared down to two paragraphs, which made no mention of the original concerns, after Smith inquired about the submission.

Smith has maintained he never saw the original submission, and was only ever presented with the two-paragraph version.

But Labour leader David Cunliffe said responses to written questions raised doubts about Smith's assertions he didn't know about the original draft submission until it was made public on September 17.

"The documents show Dr Smith's weekly report dated May 20 discussed the content of DOC's submission and referred specifically to concerns about monitoring nitrogen and phosphate levels in the Tukituki River.

"Dr Smith also claims he first asked DOC to give him a copy of the submission on July 29. However, his weekly report dated June 24 shows on June 17 he required DOC to have him approve the submission before submitting it," Cunliffe said.

"Labour believes Dr Smith has misled Parliament over what he knew about DOC's draft submission."

Smith dismissed those claims while Prime Minister John Key was forced to defend him in the house today.

Key said he had full confidence in Smith's handling of the matter.

The Ruataniwha irrigation scheme would involve the construction of an 80-metre-high dam on the Makaroro River, storing about 9 million cubic metres of water which would irrigate 20,000-25,000 hectares in the Ruataniwha Basin.

Hawke's Bay Regional Council has estimated the project will cost $232 million.

It would be up to the Speaker of the House to refer the complaint to the privileges committee.