Network Waitaki want to upgrade the line and therefore require access through our property. And because I had written to the Pirme Minister and his Minister of Energy they decided it best to meet with me - that is Network Waitaki.
Well three of them turned up vs me by myself - they like the odds. Now they are prepared to move the line to outside our property, against the fence 'but will have to remove all the trees'.
'Ok.' Says I, as the trees outside our fence were actually planted by the NZFS in the good old days.
'But we require a contribution from you.' they said.
'Oh yes, and how much would that be?' I asked.
'Ten thousand dollars.' said they.
I knew they were trying to frighten me off.
'That won't be happening.' I told them.
Then they need to cut my fence to gain access with their larger equipment and I implied that the cost of that might be ten thousand dollars, knowing they had legal right to gain entry - but I added that bit of humor.
They are leaving the line where it is, and are paying for a guy to fell trees that are close to the line - then I will have to tidy up.
You see, I wrote on my other blog about 'the stroke of a pen'. In 1993 the then government passed a law that made things easy for line companies so the lines could be sold off.
If power/line companies want to access property, in these days of user pays, they should pay in some way to compensate the landholder.
