Conversion ban leaves question mark over forestry's growth prospects
On Wednesday afternoon, the Environment Select Committee reported back to the House on the Climate Change Response (Emissions Trading Scheme—Forestry Conversion) Amendment Bill.
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Scoop
6 hours ago
- Scoop
ACT Speeds Up Consents To Keep The Lights On And Costs Down
ACT MP and Energy spokesperson Simon Court is welcoming the passage of the Resource Management (Consenting and Other System Changes) Amendment Bill into law. 'ACT campaigned to end the ban on oil and gas exploration and to use New Zealand's Crown minerals – including oil, gas, and coal – to keep our lights on and our economy moving,' Court said. 'We also identified that the RMA made it virtually impossible to consent thermal electricity generation, even when it was critical for energy security. 'From today, gas and coal-fired power stations have the same one-year priority consenting pathway as wind and solar projects. That means generators renewing or seeking new consents for thermal plants won't be bogged down in years of red tape. The race to net zero has made one thing clear – without reliable thermal backup, there's a limit to how much renewable energy the grid can handle. When the wind doesn't blow and the sun doesn't shine, New Zealanders still expect to heat their homes, run factories, and keep the lights on. ACT is making sure they can. 'Experience here and in Australia shows that as more wind and solar comes online, the need for reliable backup grows, too. These reforms make it faster to consent that firming generation so homes and businesses can count on a secure power supply.' ACT is also welcoming the requirement for specified energy or wood processing consents to be decided within a year, with extensions allowed, but never exceeding two years in total. "We're cutting years off the consenting process and removing uncertainty for major energy projects. That's good news for the construction sector and especially ordinary New Zealanders who pay the compliance costs," says Mr Court. 'By speeding up projects and cutting red tape, ACT is helping to keep power prices and building costs under control.'
NZ Herald
8 hours ago
- NZ Herald
Letters: If we want to limit words in te reo Māori, what about words in English?
Surely every parent wants to hear their child's teacher say, 'He tohunga tō tamaiti ki te pānui' ('Your child is great at reading'), and for the parent to respond 'Ehara, ehara' ('Absolutely'). Sue Leman, Mt Albert. The children can cope It is astonishing to note so much alarm over the inclusion of Māori words in the reading programme for 5-year-olds. Surely teachers and children can both cope with the inclusion of vocabulary that many learners would already be familiar with. Songs in Māori, counting and skipping rhymes are known and often sung in kindergarten and pre-school situations. Most young children entering school would happily cope with 'pukeko' or 'pipi' as part of daily life and vocabulary. Growing up in New Zealand, they are also used to Aotearoa as the name of our motu. We have a hybrid language already; it's not easy or desirable to separate English and Māori usage. As a writer for Red Rocket Books, used as supplementary readers in junior classes, I am delighted to find some of my early titles being produced in Māori. Why would we want to backtrack on the language progress that has already been made? Would the education authorities please reconsider this restrictive attitude towards early school learning? Diana Burslem, Epsom. Blood-and-guts debate Gerry Brownlee has done it again! Add this latest fiasco in the debating chamber to his long list of 'Gerry Brownlee Gaffes' - and yes, there is a page with a list of at least 10 major gaffes on it. Brownlee defended his actions by saying Chlöe Swarbrick's words were directed personally at other coalition MPs. Oh no! That being the case then, why was Labour's Kieran McNulty not sent from the House in July last year when he said, 'They are spineless and gutless because they have given in to the whims of their coalition partners just to get into power', when referring to National. He went on to say, 'Utterly spineless and gutless.' There are many other examples of references to spines and guts being used, even by Sir John Key, which Brownlee enthusiastically applauded at the time. If anyone should be asked to apologise for their hasty actions, it's Brownlee. But I'm guessing he will be too gutless, or should that be spineless? Steve Jardine, Glendowie. Add to that list . . . Chlöe Swarbrick, the co-leader of the Green Party, was asked to leave the House yesterday for the second time after calling MPs spineless, or questioning whether enough of them had spines, and refusing to apologise. I support the cause Chlöe was espousing, in its essence, and also her right to make that comment in the House without being asked to leave. However, I wonder if she will now add to her list of spineless MPs two former Prime Ministers, (Jacinda Ardern and Chris Hipkins) and two former ministers (Grant Robertson and Ayesha Verrall), who have all chosen not to appear in public hearings for the Covid Royal Commission of Inquiry, despite being asked to do so, as announced on Wednesday. Claire Chambers, Parnell. In support of Peters' approach It would seem that Hamas has now come out and thanked all of those nations that, in recent weeks, called for the recognition of a Palestinian state. Hamas claims that this was its ultimate aim and that it is grateful for the international support. That would underscore why Chlöe Swarbrick's call for support from 'six of 68 government MPs with a spine' was, in fact, way off course, and that Winston Peters' more cautious approach makes total sense. John Pendreigh, Westmere. Good on Chlöe! What Chlöe Swarbrick said in the House, and to reporters afterwards, was right on the money, and she should not have been told to withdraw her statement and apologise. Good on her for not doing so. Glenn Forsyth, Taupō.
Scoop
12 hours ago
- Scoop
New RMA Amendment To Speed Up Consenting Of Much-Needed New Generation
Energy Resources Aotearoa is celebrating a significant win for New Zealand's energy sector, with Parliament today passing the Resource Management (Consenting and Other System Changes) Amendment Bill at its third reading. The new Act amends the RMA to open up a consenting pathway for specified energy activities, which is intended to reduce costs for operators and unlock much-needed investment in renewable energy infrastructure. Energy Resources Aotearoa is pleased the Act adopts its key recommendation to extend the same streamlined settings to thermal electricity generation. Projects such as gas-fired peaking plants - essential for meeting demand when wind generation is low, hydro storage is depleted, and solar output is unavailable - will now benefit from faster consenting, with decisions required within 12 months. Chief Executive of Energy Resources Aotearoa, John Carnegie, says this change is a big win for the energy sector and New Zealand households and businesses. "Renewables will power more and more of New Zealand's future energy needs, but we need firming capacity to step in when the weather doesn't co-operate. This decision means we can plan and build the backup generation that keeps the grid stable and the country's economy and industrial base humming." Carnegie says that in adopting this change, the Government has agreed with Energy Resources Aotearoa's call for a broader, fuel-agnostic consenting framework that includes all activities improving New Zealand's energy security. "We've long argued for a fuel-agnostic approach where projects are judged on their merits, not their fuel or technology type. Parliament has recognised that reality today, and it's a vital step toward a more secure system that provides the energy abundance New Zealand needs to thrive." Energy Resources Aotearoa commends the Government for taking a whole-of-system approach to resource management reform that recognises the interdependence of renewable and thermal generation in maintaining a secure and reliable electricity supply for New Zealand's future.
