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Kevin Stratful was an economic development consultant for Development West Coast (DWC) and the director of Renew Energy Limited (REL), the company behind a controversial waste-to-energy plant proposed for the West Coast. He came under fire for using his work emails to promote the plant and urging West Coast councils to “avoid” responding to requests for official information. In an email chain to West Coast mayors and council chief executives obtained by Stuff, Stratful said all councils and the DWC should have a joint policy on how OIA requests were handled and “what process or policies are put into place to avoid them”. He also said he had previously been given “the chance to edit” responses before they were sent to the media.  Stratful said there had “never been a conflict of interest” and that his latest resignation was “no big deal.” Read More

Renew Energy independent director Kevin Stratful said the company’s previous partner, China Tianying Inc (CNTY), would no longer be used. Discussions were underway with a new European partner. Stratful told Thursday’s meeting that the Hokitika plant would not use Chinese technology and would not need to stockpile rubbish. The Renew Energy plant was initially mooted for the Buller district but abandoned after it was revealed that Buller mayor Garry Howard had allegedly signed an agreement with a Chinese investor without telling the public or district councillors. New plans for a plant to be built in Hokitika by 2022 were put to a meeting of about 500 Westland residents. Stratful played a lengthy video about a waste-to-energy plant on the Spanish island of Mallorca, which attracts millions of tourists each year. When he described the plant as a new tourist attraction for Westland, there were howls of laughter.    “You guys in Buller are sore about losing the plant,” Stratful replied to a man asking how much carbon the plant would emit.  Tracie Piercy asked where the plant would go, as she was potentially a neighbour and worried it would “destroy” property values in Westland.  Stratful ignored her question and Piercy left the meeting in frustration.  Read More