Cyber-tagger leaves mark

Stealth marketing tactics are being employed by an anonymous protester to highlight the continued lowering of water levels at Lake Hawea by national electricity supplier Contact Energy.

A digitally altered photo of the control structure at Lake Hawea has been circulating in cyberspace and via email, depicting a large graffiti message spray-painted on the side of the water intake building.

The image was forwarded to the Otago Daily Times during the weekend, a day after a press release from the Guardians of Lake Hawea was sent to national media organisations.

The Guardians of Lake Hawea are against Contact lowering the lake past its statutory prescribed minimum level of 338m above sea level and taking an extra two metres drawdown of water.

However, representatives of the "watchdog" group have distanced themselves from the email and say they are not responsible.

Group chairman Grant Fyfe did not return calls yesterday, but Guardians of Lake Hawea executive member John Taylor said he appreciated the humour of the digitally altered photo.

"We appreciate the attention they are bringing to the cause, but certainly don't condone anything of a vandalistic nature as envisaged by the photo."

Mr Taylor said he had been sent the email and had at first believed someone had taken to Contact Energy's intake structure with a spray can.

Contact spokesman Jonathan Hill said he had not seen the image.

Contact was constantly in discussion with the local community about the level of Lake Hawea.

An Otago Regional Council water flow website reading put the level of Lake Hawea at 338.136m above sea level at 5pm yesterday.