WOLFGANG FABER AGAINST RNZ

Wolfgang Faber complained about a Nine to Noon interview on May 10 which reported that Aluminium Smelters Ltd had agreed to reduce the power it was taking to operate its Tiwai Point plant because of a looming power crisis. He complained that it failed to mention that it was being compensated in money by Meridian Energy for agreeing to take less power and that this was misleading.

The programme mentioned an agreement between the parties but without further information – the terms of the power supply agreement have always been a commercial secret - RNZ was not in a position to take it further.

 Mr Faber says it's a fact that the Aluminium Smelter would be compensated in money for using less electricity. That is his assumption and he may be right, but RNZ cannot be criticised for failing to report something it cannot establish without supporting information.

There are insufficient grounds to proceed.