Simon Bridges says if he was in power he'd forge ahead with a West Coast power scheme.
The Government's turned down Westpower's application for a "run of river" power scheme on Waitaha River, south of Hokitika.
More than 3,000 people submitted on the application, the majority opposed.
But Simon Bridges told the Country the Government is anti-development and he has a different take on things.
"We would do the dam. I just think it's absolutely ridiculous.
"Look, I don't know the area particularly well. It may be beautiful. There are plenty of beautiful parts around there."
He says that if the Government is serious about being renewable, then the scheme should go ahead.Â
Earlier, Westland Mayor Bruce Smith told Kate Hawkesby it feels like all of his region's major industries are being targeted.
He says logging restrictions and whitebait regulations have seriously impacted livelihoods on the West Coast.
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