Vector Limited & Subsidiaries

Gas Distribution Activities

Statement of Accounting Policies (continued)

For the year ended 30 June 2006

h) Income tax

The income tax expense recognised for the year is based on the operating surplus before taxation, adjusted for permanent differences between accounting and tax rules.

The impact of all timing differences between accounting and taxable income is recognised as a deferred tax liability or asset. This is the comprehensive basis for the calculation of deferred tax under the liability method.

A deferred tax asset, or the effect of tax losses carried forward is recognised in the financial statements only where there is the virtual certainty that the benefit of the timing differences, or losses, will be utilised.

i) Property, plant and equipment

The cost of purchased property, plant and equipment is the value of the consideration given to acquire the property, plant and equipment and the value of other directly attributable costs, which have been incurred in bringing the property, plant and equipment to the location and condition necessary for the intended service. All feasibility costs are expensed as incurred.

The cost of self-constructed property, plant and equipment includes the cost of all materials used in construction, direct labour on the project, costs of obtaining resource management consents, financing costs that are attributable to the project and an appropriate proportion of the variable and fixed overheads. Costs cease to be capitalised as soon as the item of property, plant and equipment is ready for productive use and do not include any inefficiency costs.

Subsequent expenditure relating to an item of property, plant and equipment is added to its gross carrying amount when such expenditure either increases the future economic benefits beyond its existing service potential, or is necessarily incurred to enable future economic benefits to be obtained, and that expenditure would have been included in the initial cost of the item had the expenditure been incurred at that time.

Distribution systems are revalued on the basis of depreciated replacement cost or a discounted cash flow methodology as appropriate. Other classes of property, plant and equipment are not revalued.

Revaluations of distribution systems and distribution land and buildings are carried out at least every three years.

Valuations are performed on the basis of highest and best use in accordance with Financial Reporting Standard No. 3. If the estimated recoverable amount of an asset is less than its carrying amount, the asset is written down to its estimated recoverable amount and an impairment loss is recognised in the statement of financial performance.

Estimated recoverable amount is the greater of the estimated amount from the future use of the property, plant and equipment and its ultimate disposal, and its net market value. Annual impairment reviews are undertaken for all property, plant and equipment.

Assets acquired as part of a business acquisition are recognised at fair value at the commencement date of the disclosure period in which the acquisition occurred in accordance with the Gas (Information Disclosure) Regulations 1997.

j) Depreciation

Depreciation of property, plant and equipment, other than freehold land, is calculated on a straight line basis so as to expense the cost of the property, plant and equipment, or revalued amount, less any expected residual value of the property, plant and equipment to the statement of financial performance over its useful economic life.

| Buildings | 40 - 100 years |
| Distribution systems | 15 - 100 years |
| Plant, vehicles and equipment | 5 - 40 years |

k) Leased property, plant and equipment

Operating leases

Lease payments under operating leases, where the lessors effectively retain substantially all the risks and benefits of ownership of the leased property, plant and equipment are expensed to the statement of financial performance in equal instalments over the lease term.

Leasehold improvements

The cost of improvements to leasehold property are capitalised and depreciated over the unexpired period of the lease or the estimated useful life of the improvements, whichever is the shorter.