11 Jun 2021

Coal still king for Westland Mayor Bruce Smith

From Morning Report, 6:37 am on 11 June 2021

The burning of coal to create electricity is at a nine-year high in New Zealand.

The news comes in the same week the Prime Minister says action on climate change must be do or die.

The same amount of coal was used to generate electricty in the first three months of the year than for 2016 and 2017 combined.

It has been on the rise every year for five years.

Climate activists say that trend is crazy and the country must find alternatives for when water is too low to create enough hydro electricity.

Westland Mayor Bruce Smith told reporter Jordan Bond coal is still crucial in his mining-dependent town.