Ardern visits Taranaki to talk oil and gas
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern reassured the energy sector during her first visit to Taranaki since the Government’s bombshell decision to pull the plug on future fossil fuel exploration.
Ardern was accompanied yesterday by ministers Megan Woods and Andrew Little for a day of closeddoor meetings with the oil and gas sector and union workers at a number of locations.
This was followed by 15 minutes of questions and answers with the media in New Plymouth.
Ardern, who is just weeks away from the birth of her first child, said the talks had been ‘‘really constructive’’.
‘‘No current permits will be changed,’’ she said during the media conference at the Robe St headquarters of Venture Taranaki, the region’s tourism body.
‘‘Existing rights are fully protected and we expect to see ongoing oil and gas exploration in this region for decades to come.
‘‘We’ve got the next 20 years to work on those alternative energy sources and Taranaki has the expertise to be at the lead and the forefront of that development.’’
The prime minister defended waiting six weeks to visit Taranaki following the Government’s shock announcement in April.
National Party leader Simon Bridges and ACT Party leader David Seymour have already visited the region.
The industry provides Taranaki with up to 7000 jobs.
‘‘I absolutely indicated from the beginning that I would get here, it was my intent to get here a little bit sooner, some international travel got in the way.
‘‘What it has allowed us to do is work up some of those plans, to sit down and have those constructive conversations.’’
The prime minister had also been criticised for not consulting the Taranaki oil and gas sector before the announcement.
However, Ardern said the Government had been considering the issue for some time.
‘‘The minister had met multiple times with the people in the industry before the decision so they knew where they stood.’’
Ardern met with the region’s
mayors, council heads and Venture Taranaki bosses yesterday morning where they requested $42 million be invested in planning Taranaki’s economic strategy over the next three years.
In a statement, the mayors said the government had not set out a plan for the transition to alternative energy and wanted its support to hold a national conference, entitled Just Transition, in New Plymouth, to look to the future.
Although Ardern did not say if the government would commit to the funding, she did commit to the conference.
‘‘They know about the $20m we’ve invested in Taranaki through the provincial growth fund, and that answers one of the calls which is let’s make sure we’re investing in alternative parts of the economy, like tourism for example.
‘‘We have an obligation to those who are particularly reliant on this sector and where we’re going in 30 years’ time, but for the here and now our message to investors is your rights are protected and we’re working on a long term plan.
‘‘This is an industry that’s changing dramatically. In fact there’s been down turns in Taranaki from 2014 where there were job losses. We’re now saying we want to work with you to make sure we protect those jobs in the future.’’
The prime minister said they would be working together to ‘‘future proof the energy sector’’ because Taranaki will be ‘‘Ground Zero’’ in the change to alternative energy.
‘‘We think Taranaki is well placed to be a leader in this area. We want to support that initiative.’’
Ardern also addressed the threat the cattle disease Mycoplasma bovis poses for another of Taranaki’s biggest sectors, farming.
The Government will announce its plan to tackle the disease on Monday.
‘‘There’s no doubt it will have an impact on the way New Zealand farms. That will be a result of M. Bovis no matter if we eradicate or manage it.
‘‘We need to make sure that we make a decision that, as a nation and an agricultural community, we don’t regret.’’
Following talks with the prime minister, New Plymouth District mayor Neil Holdom said oil and gas wasn’t just a Taranaki issue.
‘‘It’s people in Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch. When it gets dark tonight it’s Taranaki energy that’s keeping the lights on.
‘‘What we’ve asked the prime minister to do is help us address the risk and address the uncertainty.’’
The prime minister’s visit was not all shop talk, however. Her baby is due on June 17 and Venture Taranaki staff presented her with some knitted booties in the Taranaki colours of amber and black.
‘‘We’ve got the next 20 years to work on those alternative energy sources and Taranaki has the expertise to be at the lead and the forefront of that development.’’ Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern