National's Paula Bennett today laid the blame firmly with NZ First for allowing a "death sentence" to regional New Zealand, she claims the ban on future offshore oil exploration will bring.
The National deputy-leader spoke extensively during a Parliamentary urgent debate on the government's decision to issue no more permits for offshore oil and gas exploration in New Zealand.
The government say the move is to cut rising greenhouse emissions. (Source: Other)
Ms Bennett accused NZ First of "rolling over to the Greens" in supporting the decision, and failing to stand up for the regions as they continually claim.
"I feel gutted for the business manager of an engineering firm in New Plymouth who on hearing the news today immediately walked into the HR department and said stop all hiring now," Ms Bennett said.
"Shame on NZ First for all of the words they have used in supporting our regions. When it really came down to it they rolled over to the Greens, left their principals behind and did not back our regions."
Ms Bennett went on to quote Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones assertion that offshore oil and gas drilling was "an essential feature of domestic and export growth, and business and enterprises enabling it will get full government support".
The National deputy-leader also suggested that the move away from natural gas in New Zealand would necessarily lead to an increased use of "dirty" coal energy, and not actually combat climate change as the Greens assert.
However in reply, NZ First's Mr Jones said the oil exploration ban signaled a clear commitment to combat climate change - something he said the National Party only issued hollow words towards.
"We have given a clear sense of the direction of travel that this Government seeks to take," Mr Jones said
"It is enabling us with utter clarity to share with New Zealanders we are not climate change deniers.
"I guarantee you the other side of the house will soon stand up and they will prove as a consequence of their rhetoric that they might like going to these international conventions, hobnobbing, but their words are hollow, their actions are non-existent and a number of them are going to be shown up that they have no practical response."
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern made the announcement today with NZ First MP Shane Jones and Green Party co-leader James Shaw at her side.
This year's block offer, in which new exploration permits are offered by the government to oil companies, will be limited to onshore acreage in Taranaki alone, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced today.
The government will protect existing exploration and mining rights and no current jobs will be affected as all agreements with current permit holders will be honoured, she said.
“We are not climate change deniers
"This is a responsible step which provides certainty for businesses and communities that rely on fossil fuels. We're striking the right balance."
There are 31 oil and gas exploration permits currently active and 22 are offshore.
These permits cover an area nearly the size of the North Island and run as far out as 2030. They could go an additional 40 years under a mining permit.
Greenpeace called the move a "historic moment", executive director Russel Norman saying it showed the "tide has turned irreversibly against big oil".
Last month, Ms Ardern's personal acceptance of a 50,000-signature Greenpeace petition telegraphed an announcement.
But the ACT Party says the change will put 11,000 jobs at risk and could actually harm the environment by forcing New Zealand to buy dirtier sources of energy overseas to meet power demand.
"The oil and gas industry creates thousands of jobs, contributes $2.5 billion to the New Zealand economy and $500 million to the government in royalties each year," leader David Seymour said.
Fear of the economic costs have been strongest in the regions - Taranaki in particular - and New Plymouth mayor Neil Holdom called the decision a "kick in the guts".
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