PM ‘considering everything’ on oil

The Labour-led Government is considering ‘‘everything’’ about the future of the oil and gas exploration in New Zealand, with Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern denying any inconsistency in her statements.

On Monday, Ardern told a Greenpeace rally on the steps of Parliament that her Government was ‘‘actively considering’’ a call to end oil exploration.

But later that day she said the issue was a matter that came before Governments annually: how to administer the annual block offer process marketing exploration areas to the oil and gas industry.

Yesterday Ardern disputed a report suggesting she was backtracking, saying considering permits and the future of exploration were the same thing.

National Party leader Simon Bridges has speculated that the Government may simply be considering the way it offers new space to the industry.

But the suggestion drew a testy response from Ardern.

‘‘When have we ever said that we would do that, ever. We have never, ever talked about that. We’re considering future block offers, that means considering the way we manage gas and oil exploration in New Zealand in the future.’’

Asked if the Government was then considering a permanent ban on new exploration, Ardern said ‘‘everything’’ was being considered.

‘‘We’re considering everything . . . We haven’t made a call, we’re weighing up environmental and economic impacts and the issue of a just transition.’’

Bridges said there was ‘‘a world of difference between changes to block offer, even getting rid of it, and ending all new oil and gas exploration’’.

He warned of potential job losses. ‘‘Words really matter. This is a multibillion-dollar sector that contributes hugely in terms of jobs in our regions, not a political play thing for the Prime Minister to get her out of a hole.’’

At the Monday rally, Greenpeace handed over a 45,000-signature petition calling for the end of oil exploration.

Greenpeace climate campaigner Kate Simcock, who delivered it to Ardern, said the PM’s attendance at the rally was taken as a positive sign.

A failure to end oil exploration would put Labour in the same camp as National.

‘‘For now we’re giving her the benefit of the doubt.’’

The organisation is running advertisements in newspapers today featuring an open letter from notable New Zealanders.