May 2018
PEPANZ meets with Prime Minister
The PEPANZ Board has met with Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern in Taranaki last week to discuss the halt in offshore exploration permits. The meeting was also attended by Ministers Megan Woods, Andrew Little and a range of Government officials.
While we agreed to disagree on the merits of the policy, the Government conveyed their desire to give current permit holders certainty their existing rights will be protected. This is something PEPANZ will be working on with the Government.
A review of the Crown Minerals Act will also happen in the medium-term and PEPANZ will be involved with this to help provide certainty and flexibility. At this stage no decision has been made for onshore permits beyond 2020.
Public debate continues on exploration
Public debate and media coverage has continued over the last month on the decision to end offshore exploration for oil and gas. Some highlights include:
*Energy and Resources Minister Megan Woods interview on TV3's The Nation (transcript here). It was pleasing to see issues covered that PEPANZ has been raising, such as energy security and the lack of consultation.
*Another in-depth interview for interest.co.nz : "Energy and Resources Minister Megan Woods admits she can’t be sure there will be enough affordable clean energy available to fill the gap left when New Zealand’s natural gas reserves run out as soon as within the next 10 years."
*Top analyst John Kidd raises concerns over "errors and misrepresentations" surrounding the exploration policy in the New Zealand Herald.
*Official estimates on New Zealand's gas reserves have been downgraded.
PEPANZ has also lodged Official Information Act requests with various Government agencies to see any official advice provided on the policy. This is expected to be released by the Ministry for Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) on 19 June.
In the meantime the Ministry for the Environment has confirmed they provided no official advice.
Productivity Commission report on low-emissions
The Productivity Commission has released it's draft report into a low emissions economy.
The focus of the report is "...options for how New Zealand can reduce its domestic greenhouse gas emissions through a transition to a low-emissions economy, while at the same time continuing to grow income and wellbeing."
PEPANZ submitted to the Commission on this report last year and will be making another formal submission, based on the contribution our sector can make to this challenge.
Seismic survey rethink looms
Conservation Minister Eugenie Sage has signalled possible changes to the rules around seismic surveys.
The Minister says no legislative changes are planned as yet, but there is consideration of making the Code of Conduct compulsory.
It is unclear what practical difference this would make, given that the Code already must be complied with in order for surveys to be a 'permitted activity' in the EEZ.
Greenpeace changes mind, pleads guilty
Greenpeace executive director Russel Norman and a fellow activist have changed their minds and pleaded guilty to interfering in the operations of a seismic survey ship.
The charges follow the protest action in April 2017 and is a back-down from their previous intention of contesting the charges.
At the same time MBIE withdrew their charges against Greenpeace as an organisation. Sentencing will be held in July.
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