Senior Māori Government ministers Shane Jones and Tama Potaka say Māori will have plenty of opportunities to voice their views on the proposed changes to the Crown Minerals Act.
The pair have organised a Zoom hui with iwi leaders tomorrow to outline plans for the removal of the ban on new oil and gas exploration and other proposed changes to the Crown Minerals regime.
Jones said not all Māori are against gas and oil exploration.
“The gas industry has boosted Taranaki including Māori for decades. It keeps our lights on. The sector can offer more but we need greater investment.” Jones told the Herald.
“The legal requirement to engage with iwi is a chance to talk about energy security. This is economic reality not a cultural soap opera. I look forward to a robust exchange.
“Iwi leadership needs to avoid green gullibility.”
In a letter to iwi, Jones and Potaka wrote: “The kaupapa for the hui is to share the scope of changes being considered by the Government as part of their commitment to removing the ban on oil and gas exploration beyond onshore Taranaki. The intention in removing the ban is to provide a secure and affordable supply of gas for New Zealand, and to attract international investment.
“Rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s exploration opportunities will require more than the removal of the ban. New Zealand must re-establish itself as an attractive and secure destination for international investment. To do that, Government is considering changes to the Crown Minerals Act 1991 that go beyond the ban, to support investor confidence and improve regulatory efficiency.”
Potaka said tomorrow’s hui was important.
“This is an important opportunity to share kōrero about the changes proposed, and to hear feedback.”
The ministers said there were six key areas of the Crown Minerals regime where the Government is considering change:
* Reversing the ban and other 2018 amendments
* Changes to the way petroleum applications are tendered and allocated
* Changes to managing hobby mineral mining permit applications
* Changes to the petroleum decommissioning regime, and
* Changing the purpose statement of the Crown Minerals Act.
Following this hui, there will be further opportunities for iwi and hapū to provide written feedback.