The Wellington-headquartered commission yesterday granted Auckland International Airport Limited an exemption under the Electricity Industry Reform Act 1998 (EIR Act), allowing the company to appoint Turner as a director.

The act would normally have prohibited Turner from being involved in AIAL’s internal electricity lines network, as well as Meridian’s nationwide hydroelectricity supply business.

However, commission chairperson Paula Rebstock said an exemption was permissible, provided there was no relationship between the two companies. “In other words, Meridian should not become an electricity retailer to consumers connected to AIAL’s electricity distribution network.”