Now the groundwork has been laid, the govt invites us to have our say on the shaping of a low-emissions economy
The government is empowering and protecting us today, along with appointing a new High Court judge.
The empowering is being done through a consultation that will allow us to say what we think of the government’s plans for transitioning New Zealand towards a low-emissions economy.
Energy and Resources Minister Megan Woods tells us the “government has already laid the groundwork for a new energy future that moves us away from fossil fuels and towards renewable energy”.
Too late to tell them what we think about that, then…
But wait. In the next breath, Woods implies that nothing has been done other than laying the groundwork, because she says:
“The next steps are to shape how that will happen.”
New Zealanders are being asked to have a say on important policy areas that will shape our way toward to a renewable future, Woods said.
The consultations include:
Too late to tell them what we think about that, then…
But wait. In the next breath, Woods implies that nothing has been done other than laying the groundwork, because she says:
“The next steps are to shape how that will happen.”
New Zealanders are being asked to have a say on important policy areas that will shape our way toward to a renewable future, Woods said.
The consultations include:
- a plan for managing the gas industry’s transition to a low emissions future
- an Interim Hydrogen Roadmap to set out the government’s initial views on the future role of hydrogen in New Zealand
- regulations to enable offshore renewable energy development
- market measures to make sure electricity is reliable and affordable as we transition to an expanded and more renewable system,
- and how we will implement the Emissions Reduction Plan action to ban new fossil fuel baseload electricity generation.
When it comes to protection, the government has announced 19 new marine protection areas, increasing coverage to 18% of the Hauraki Gulf. Bottom trawling and Danish seining is to be banned from large areas and a “tailored fisheries plan” implemented to support the gulf’s ecosystem
But this calls for legislation – and, again, we should not forget that a general election might result in a Parliament with a majority of MPs who don’t support the Hauraki Gulf/Tīkapa Moana Marine Protection Bill.
The Bill includes:
- Extending the country’s first marine reserve, Cape Rodney – Okakari Point Marine Reserve (Goat Island) and Whanganui A Hei (Cathedral Cove) Marine Reserve, on the Coromandel Peninsula
- Creating 12 new high protection areas to protect and restore marine ecosystems, while allowing for customary practices of tangata whenua.
- Five new seafloor protection areas to preserve sensitive seafloor habitats by prohibiting bottom-contact fishing methods and other activities which harm the seafloor.
Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Duncan Webb has reminded us that in October last year, Cabinet agreed to bring BNPL within the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Act (CCCFA).
After consulting with the public in December, improvements to the proposed draft regulations have been announced today.
This one is a case of announce now, provide the details later.
Webb said:
“Cabinet has accepted the need to exempt BNPL loans from affordability and suitability assessments – that would be too onerous for these short term, low value, interest-free loans.
“Instead, BNPL lenders will be required to complete comprehensive credit reporting when customers sign up or increase their credit limit.
“The details of these regulations will be announced soon. BNPL lenders will have a grace period to put in place systems and processes to meet the new requirements.”
Webb also announced a wider review of the CCCFA, and some additional exemptions for certain types of lending.
“It’s important to keep the Act up to date to ensure it continues to strike the right balance between protecting vulnerable consumers and having a healthy and effective market for credit. Terms of reference will be announced in due course.
“We will be extending an exemption for voluntary targeted rate scheme loans (these low-cost loans are usually for sustainable home improvements like insulation) administered by local and regional councils.”
Latest from the Beehive
9 AUGUST 2023
Auckland King’s Counsel Laura Anne O’Gorman has been appointed a Judge of the High Court, Attorney‑General David Parker announced today.
The Government is seeking feedback on an ambitious programme of work to transition New Zealand towards a low emissions economy, with consultation on five streams of energy launched by Minister of Energy and Resources Dr Megan Woods today.
The Government is taking a major step towards protecting the Hauraki Gulf for future generations, including nearly tripling the area of Auckland’s maritime area that’s under protection.
8 AUGUST 2023
Increased protections for consumers using Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) credit contracts have been announced by Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Dr Duncan Webb.
Point of Order is a blog focused on politics and the economy run by veteran newspaper reporters Bob Edlin and Ian Templeton
1 comment:
Net Zero and all pushing this depopulation agenda gone by lunch time. There, fixed it.
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