Wellington, June 26 NZPA - Outgoing Fairfax Media New Zealand chief executive Joan Withers is seeking an exemption from electricity industry regulations to join the board of state-owned Mighty River Power.

The Commerce Commission today said Ms Withers wanted the exemption from section 17 of the Electricity Industry Reform Act.

The section was intended to prevent a person being involved both in an electricity lines business and in the generation or supply of electricity, in certain circumstances.

Ms Withers is a director of Auckland International Airport, which owns the electricity distribution network at Auckland Airport.

Infratil director Mark Tume is also seeking an exemption from section 17 to join the board of gas and electricity distributor PowerCo.

Infratil owns a 50.5 per cent shareholding in electricity generator and retailer TrustPower.