Energy sector quizzes prime minister over strategy for transition to alternatives
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 by ministers Megan Woods and Andrew Little yesterday for a day of closed-door meetings with the oil and gas sector, and union workers.
Ardern said the talks had been ‘‘really constructive’’.
‘‘No current permits will be changed,’’ she said during a media conference. ‘‘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.
The industry provides Taranaki with up to 7000 jobs.
‘‘It was my intent to get here a little bit sooner. 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.’’
Ardern met with the region’s mayors, council heads and Taranaki tourism 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 they wanted its support to hold a national conference 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.’’
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.’’