Click photo to enlarge
Protesters who oppose the lowering of Lake Hawea by Contact
Energy used digital technology to "paint" this protest
message on a photo of part of the lake's control structure.
Image supplied.
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.
