Transpower helicopters upset residents

Helicopters hovering over farms, apparently surveying routes for Transpower's controversial transmission line through the Waikato, are infuriating landowners.

Their presence has raised tension as Transpower this week starts a series of meetings with communities affected by plans to build power pylons on their land.

Transpower meets in Maramarua today, Matamata tomorrow and Tirau on Thursday before returning to Morrinsville next week.

Protest marches are likely to precede the meetings in Matamata and Tirau, and organisers are predicting packed halls.

Residents said their biggest complaint was that Transpower was refusing to answer questions.

Putaruru protest organiser Christina Baldwin said "huge" helicopters hovering for literally hours overhead were upsetting people.

She said one elderly farmer became so distressed he rang her to say he felt like "shooting the helicopter out of the sky".

Yet when she rang Transpower, staff refused to confirm that the helicopters were working for the grid operator.

"It was on their website that there was going to be an aerial survey," Ms Baldwin said.

"The people here are more distressed than ever ... They stare at the hills and look at their view and say, 'Transpower is going to spoil everything we've worked for here'."

The 10 communities on the 220km route between Otahuhu and Whakamaru have formed a society called New Era Energy, chaired by Putaruru dairy farmer and accountant David Graham.

Mr Graham said each community group aimed to raise $100,000 towards a $1 million fighting fund.

"There's a feeling that we are being fobbed off rather than being treated as concerned people."

Transpower communications manager Chris Roberts said staff would try to answer residents' questions at the meetings.

"We are keen to have sensible dialogue," he said. "We would rather have people inside the hall talking to us than standing outside with placards."

- NZPA