A quarterly update that covers relevant information for iwi, hapū and Māori with interests in the energy and resources sector.
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Nau mai, haere mai ki Pānui – Energy and Resource Markets
This is a quarterly update that covers relevant information for iwi, hapū and Māori with interests in the energy and resources sector, and provides opportunities to share your views directly with the Energy and Resource Markets branch.
The Energy and Resource Markets branch is part of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.
Minister of Energy and Resources, Hon Dr Megan Woods (centre), iwi chair representatives and government officials meet in New Plymouth.
Energy Hui with iwi in Taranaki – January 2022
Representatives from the Taranaki Iwi Chairs met with the Minister of Energy and Resources, Hon Dr Megan Woods at a hui in January. The purpose of the hui was to discuss projects, opportunities and issues relating to energy and resources in the Taranaki region.
The discussion included an update on Block Offer – government’s annual tender process run to allocate petroleum exploration permits. MBIE has met regularly with iwi in Taranaki to discuss Block Offer, following the 2018 decision to limit new petroleum exploration permits to onshore Taranaki. The Minister took the opportunity to hear views from iwi representatives on how this process is going, and the group discussed their views on the future of oil and gas exploration in onshore Taranaki.
Minister Woods also sought views on how work to decommission the Tui Oil Field was progressing, as the ‘Tui Project’ is led by MBIE, in partnership with Te Kāhui o Taranaki. Iwi reflected that the relationship had generally worked well, the project had created some good opportunities and they were keen to continue exploring further opportunities for iwi both in the Tui Project and any future decommissioning projects.
Iwi also talked about their experiences of engagement with permit holders, particularly the importance of engaging early and proactively with iwi to foster positive relationships. Minister Woods asked iwi about what changes might be made as part of the Crown Minerals Act 1991 Review, to improve permit holder engagement with mana whenua, including the option of improving the protections in place for wāhi tapu.
Officials from Kānoa – the Regional Economic Development and Investment Unit within MBIE – talked about new energy projects and investments in Taranaki, and potential opportunities including offshore wind. The discussion also touched on the Climate Change Commission’s recommendation to develop a national energy strategy.
The Minister noted that the kōrero would help inform the work programme for the Energy and Resources portfolio, particularly how the Crown and iwi / Māori can work together towards a fair and equitable transition away from fossil fuels in Taranaki, and the opportunities for iwi and Māori in renewable energy.
Minister Woods and many of the Crown and iwi attendees reflected that the hui was beneficial, and committed to meeting kanohi ki te kanohi near the start of each year, recognising that engagements between the Minister, the Crown, iwi and hapū help to develop and strengthen relationships, improve communication and work towards better outcomes for all.
More guidance for permit holders on effective engagement with Māori can be found here:
Permit holder engagement with Māori — New Zealand Petroleum and Minerals
Marine consents granted for Tui Project
MBIE was last month granted a marine consent and marine discharge consent for activities associated with the next two stages of the Tui decommissioning project – the removal of subsea infrastructure and the plugging and abandoning of the wells in the Tui Oil Field.
MBIE applied to the Environmental Protection Authority for the consents and an independent Board of Inquiry, appointed by the Minister for the Environment, considered the application. Details of the consents granted can be found on the Environmental Protection Authority website.
MBIE marine consent application for the Tui field — Environmental Protection Authority
The granting of the consents will enable work to begin next summer on Phase 2 of the project – removal of the subsea infrastructure. The diving support vessel for Shelf Subsea, which was awarded the contract in October 2021 for the work, departed Singapore on 15 February bound for New Zealand.
More details on the Tui Project can be found at the Tui Project website.
Māori Housing Renewable Energy Fund – final round now open
Māori organisations and those working on behalf Māori are now invited to apply for funding in the third and final round of the government’s Māori Housing Renewable Energy Fund.
About $9 million of funding is available, and for the first time, eligible organisations can apply for funding of up to $2 million for larger-scale projects.
The Fund is one half of the $28 million Māori and Public Housing Renewable Energy Fund that’s been established to trial clean energy projects and help improve energy affordability.
Already 15 smaller-scale solar power initiatives have been funded through Round 1, providing clean, cheap power to more than 200 households including iwi-owned rentals, marae-based homes and Māori housing developments for disadvantaged whānau. The successful projects funded in Round 2 are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.
There are two application processes in this round. The application process for those seeking funding for smaller projects that support at least four households (and up to $400,000) is similar to the last round and applicants need to complete a single Expression of Interest form. Those with larger projects (between $400,000 and $2 million) must submit a Request for Information form as the first step of the two-step process.
More information can be found at Māori Housing Renewable Energy Fund website, and in the press release below.
Māori Housing Renewable Energy Fund - Expressions of Interest process
More Māori households to benefit from low-cost clean energy fund — Beehive.govt.nz
Next funding round for energy education opening soon
Towards the middle of the year, MBIE will be calling for applications for funding through its Support for Energy Education in Communities (SEEC) Programme. Funding is open to community-level groups providing energy education to households in need.
Already more than $3 million has been allocated to 24 pilot initiatives, which are successfully helping people learn how to increase the energy efficiency of their homes and reduce their power bills. More than $2 million will be available for the next funding round.
Visit MBIE’s website at the links below for more information or sign up to the Energy Hardship Update to receive news about the SEEC Programme and other energy hardship-related government initiatives.
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