Aussie outfit EnZed Energy's been given the nod to go have a sniff around off the coast of Taranaki.
That's important because they're the first company to be given that right since the Ardern ban. But there's already talk online about the fact this was the only application. There was nobody else applying for this permit, and it's just to have a poke around.
Now, you would say this proves the point that there's not much interest and, therefore, why bother anyway? But what it actually tells you is people are still bloody scared of the ban coming back. With good reason. Labour and the Greens say they'll bring it back.
I asked someone in the sector about this, and they said, "When that bulls*** goes away, we'll get more interest."
There's apparently another handful of permits been applied for. But this Aussie start-up is the first, and they're basically the guinea pig. The test run. It's a small step on a long road to re-building an industry that's basically in pieces on the chopping room floor.
The fact is, Labour doesn't need to be sitting in the Treasury benches to have power over industry. They're what corporates call a "regulatory risk". They don't like those.
My question to Hipkins and co. is pretty simple - NSW has just gone out to market on two tenders for offshore gas exploration. Why should they get the jobs and not us? Why should they get the royalties and not us? Why should they get the company tax and not us?
What is the point in being cool on the climate when even our next-door neighbours are doing the exact opposite?
Ryan Bridge is a New Zealand broadcaster who has worked on many current affairs television and radio shows. He currently hosts Newstalk ZB's Early Edition - where this article was sourced.
13 comments:
Duh, your article answers your own question: companies don't want to waste money investing in a Regulatory State where bans come and go with political winds. Might as well invest $ in South Sudan.
They all so have to wonder what the extra cost to appease the maori will be.
It was the NZ Main Stream Media of which Ryan is part which whipped up hysteria and supported the bans when they came in. It made anyone who didnt support the ban like me = as well as who didn't support endless lockdowns during Covid = into public enemies. The Main Stream Media's manipulation of opinion played a role in this drilling shambles. I've discovered our MPs are more followers than leaders, so when the public turns, they turn. On this issue the media turned people into opposition of drilling and now is reversing itself. Ryan apportions blame on others and not himself.
Robert - I dont think Ryan was one of the ones against drilling. Ryan seems to be more center not left - he is presenting both sides. So a bit harsh. However - I'm happy to be corrected, if he was posting stuff opposing drilling please provide evidence.
If I were in that industry I would not come near this country with a barge pole.
Yet we sit here smugly demanding our houses be kept warm and 'its our right' to have cheap gas/power/mortgage/food etc.
When people whinge I know they are 'generally' uninformed, silly, closed minded lefties.
They haven’t been interested for 20 years now. Could it be, maybe, just maybe, that there is nothing left to find? Curious.
If oil reserves are discovered in NZ waters where will it be processed ?
If it has to be processed at a refinery somewhere in Asia are we any better off in terms of resilience ?
Even the Aussies don't process their own fuel.
ENZED's permit is smack in the same area as the offshore iron ore project. So where is the uproar from the usual suspects -the environmentalists, Greenpeace, Green Party and Te Pati Maori? This, Te Tiriti, tikanga from Courts and being held to ransom are what deters capital. NZ has the resource, a lot of the skills needed and financial systems to allow development.
There was none of this nonsense in the 50s and 60s when NZ made real progress.
It's good backwards since about the time that the Waitangi Tribunal was established..
Coincidence?
If we allow ideologues and morons (but I repeat myself) under the control of cult leaders to infest our legislative chambers we should not be at all surprised that our nation is sinking inexorably into the swamp of despair. Nothing will change until we eliminate the disastrous system that we now use to govern the country. It is hard to be hopeful for the future.
Anon @9.39 you are wrong. Australia has 2 refineries . One in Geelong and one in Queensland. It also has numerous LNG plants and gas and oil exploration sites throughout the country.
We cancel oil & gas, ferries, Aircraft for RNZAF.
No one will want to trade with us.
Just a thought what if we offered a 99 year lease of an island or part there of(that is if one can be found in an oil basin ) that would stop any future Government reneging on the deal the details would be negotiated
The main problem is:: Iwi demands of millions of dollars.
As soon as THIS government dares to abolish ALL IWI demands , then there will be interest and NOT only for GAS and OIL but also for foreighn supermarkets.
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