NZ First has to swallow dead rats on drilling
Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones says the Government’s ending of oil and gas exploration is the ‘‘only scenario’’ and NZ First voters will have to accept that.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has struck a deal with her coalition partners, NZ First and the Greens, to end offshore oil exploration and put a stop to any new onshore permits with the exception of Taranaki.
Jones fronted media alongside Ardern, Climate Change Minister and Green Party co-leader James Shaw and Energy Minister Megan Woods where he painted a picture of NZ First leader Winston Peters going to lengths to strike a deal with Ardern to keep any existing entitlements intact.
He quite visibly struggled to hide the fact NZ First was having to swallow a few dead rats in accepting this policy – one the party’s pro-industry and regionresiding voters won’t like.
Jones conceded that ‘‘the reality is we’re one of three’’ at the Cabinet table.
Speaking to media after the announcement Jones was frank about being a ‘‘pro-industry man’’ and being unable to ‘‘walk back from that status’’.
‘‘But I am one person and I am loyal to the agreements that are struck by my leader and the prime minister and it’s futile to talk about alternative scenarios.
‘‘As of today this is the only scenario,’’ he said.
NZ First’s position on oil and gas exploration is to ‘‘support the extractive industries while ensuring core conservation values are maintained’’.
As a NZ First MP and ‘‘champion of the regions’’ Jones said ‘‘this is a genuine MMP Government, this is what the majority of New Zealanders voted for and we’re putting it into practice’’.
He said NZ First supporters had different priorities when it came to industry but he had never encountered one who was a ‘‘climate change denier’’.
‘‘I’d say to the provinces, the reality is this is one industry.
‘‘Break down the composition
"This is a genuine MMP Government, this is what the majority of New Zealanders voted for and we're putting it into practice.'' Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones
of our GDP – it is not entirety of industry. Sure, as a retail politician do I have some challenges in say Taranaki in front of me? Yeah, I’m up for them.’’
‘‘Taranaki historically was black gold and white gold and the black gold was already going through a period of disruptiveness.
‘‘However, the rights that they’ve currently got have not been stripped away, they will continue, and I’m confident they themselves will adapt in the transition.
‘‘The transition is either going to be driven upon us internationally or we’re going to try and get ahead of the curve and that’s what the prime minister’s said and Shane Jones is agreeing.’’
Jones also warned that while Taranaki iwi wanted to see a ‘‘cessation of offshore drilling’’ some of their people worked in the industry, so they shouldn’t be ‘‘too cute’’.