TV3 broadcaster John Campbell struggles in an interview with Tauranga MP Simon Bridges. Photo/file
TV3 broadcaster John Campbell struggles in an interview with Tauranga MP Simon Bridges. Photo/file
Broadcaster John Campbell and Tauranga MP Simon Bridges let rip in a fiery television exchange last night, with accusations of cheap shots and nimbyism.
Mr Bridges was on Campbell Live as Energy and Resources Minister to explain the benefits of deep-sea oil drilling, in light of opposition from Kaikoura residentsto American petroleum corporation Anadarko drilling off their coast, which had been featured in an earlier Campbell Live story.
Anadarko was 25 per cent shareholder in the disastrous oil well that exploded in the Gulf of Mexico.
Campbell asked how many deep-sea oil rigs there were in New Zealand of the same depth as the proposed drill in the Pegasus Basis, offshore from Kaikoura. He also asked if New Zealand was adequately prepared for a disaster response.
Mr Bridges failed to answer directly, prompting the broadcaster to talk over him. The minister fired back, shouting and accusing Campbell of being "nimby minded" by not wanting drilling in his back yard and not wanting to portray anything positive about the oil industry.
Mr Bridges challenged Campbell to recall a single positive statement about the subject from Campbell Lives' coverage, to which Campbell apologised for not having anything positive about the Gulf of Mexico as the "biggest oil disaster in the world".
The interview was extended by the show's producers but toward the end Campbell sighed and shook his head, saying he felt they had not achieved much.