Time For Labour To Back Down On Disastrous Oil And Gas Stance
'Repealing the oil and gas ban is a crucial step toward energy security, lower power bills, and more high-paying jobs for Kiwis trying to keep the lights on and the heaters running," says ACT Leader David Seymour.
'Labour's 2018 ban – backed by New Zealand First and the Greens – was some of the most reckless economic vandalism this country has ever seen. It sent a message to the world that New Zealand is a politically volatile place where investment isn't safe. New Zealand First has since changed its stance, and it's time for Labour to follow suit.
"In introducing the ban, Labour didn't consult the public, they didn't ask the experts, they didn't even take it to Cabinet. They simply stood at a podium, banned offshore oil and gas exploration, and declared victory.
'As I said at the time,' The intention is we lead the world in environmental policy. The outcome is the world thinks we're foolish idiots in a kind of banana republic that can't make laws in a predictable, principled, or stable way '.
"And it did send a clear message to the world: New Zealand is a risky, politically volatile place to invest. Investors who had already committed to our country were blindsided. And for those considering long-term, billion-dollar investments, Labour's reckless ban would certainly make them think twice. Meanwhile, Labour was happy for power companies to import dirty coal for our energy needs.
'Labour made the announcement to get international headlines. But they never stopped to think about the real-world consequences for New Zealanders' livelihood.
'Unlike wind, solar or hydro, gas is there when you need it, not just when the sun shines or the rain falls. It's a critical part of a reliable, affordable energy mix. Most importantly, reliable gas keeps our bills down. It powers the factories, heats the homes, and fuels the economy.
"Kiwis can rejoice that we've shrugged off the legacy of Jacinda Ardern and are replacing ideology with a practical approach to reliable, affordable energy.
"Now, Chris Hipkins needs to prove Labour has matured under his leadership. Regardless of how his party votes today, he ought to confirm Labour backs stable, pro-investment settings – not see-saw changes that would only serve to further damage New Zealand's attractiveness as a place to invest and be productive."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scoop
2 hours ago
- Scoop
Green Light For Garden Sheds And Garages
Minister for Regulation Hon Chris Penk Minister for Building and Construction Thanks to the Red Tape Tipline homeowners building garden sheds, sleepouts, or garages will face less red tape and fewer delays by the end of this year, Regulation Minister David Seymour and Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk say. Cabinet has agreed to remove the minimum required distance between single storey buildings under 10 square metres and a property boundary or other residential building (setback distance). Cabinet has also agreed to reduce the setback distance to one metre for single storey buildings between 10 and 30 square metres. Previously, garden sheds and other single storey detached buildings like sleep outs or garages had to be as far from a boundary or residential building as they were tall. Anything closer than that required building consent. 'We've heard the frustration about this regulation through the Red Tape Tipline. Section sizes are shrinking, and the cost of living rising. Forcing people to put sheds in the middle of their lawn or pay for a consent to store tools doesn't make sense. 'There is no justification for such generous setback distances on private property. 'Today's housing market means space is tight and building costs are high. These types of property developments are practical and affordable improvements. We want people to be able to utilise them without hassle. 'We're acting on the tips we get through the red tape tipline by removing regulation and making it easier for Kiwis to get things done. We want to hear about red tape like this that's getting in the way – I encourage anyone with a red tape issue to report it on the Ministry for Regulation website.' The changes will make it easier and cheaper for property owners to build useful structures like: · Garden sheds for storing tools and bikes · Sleepouts or hobby spaces · Small garages or workshops 'This Government is relentlessly focused on making it easier and more affordable to build,' Mr Penk says. 'We don't believe Kiwis should be bogged down in bureaucracy when making practical use of their own backyard. 'By the end of the year, homeowners will be able to put up a small shed or garage closer to their boundary or another building without needing a consent. 'That's a real win for anyone short on space, giving them more freedom to add a bike shed, protect their tools, cover a vehicle, or even create a small sleepout for guests – all without extra paperwork. 'Frustration with the building consent system is one of the top issues flagged to the Red Tape Tipline. It's great to see action that cuts through delays and makes life easier for everyday Kiwis'. These changes are expected to be in force by late 2025. Notes: · Garden sheds and other small structures up to 30 square metres can be built without building consent, provided they meet certain criteria. · Currently, one of the criteria requires a garden shed be the same distance from any boundary or another building as its own height. If not, homeowners need a building consent. · Changes to the exemption conditions will: o Allow homeowners to build single storey detached buildings between 10 and 30 square metres in floor area one metre away from any boundary or another building without a building consent. o Remove the current setback requirement for building consent exemption for single-storey structures under 10 square metres, meaning a shed can be built up to the boundary or another building without a building consent. · These changes will be made by amending Schedule 1 of the Building Act. · Homeowners will still need to ensure that all building work is compliant with the Building Code and local district plans.
Scoop
3 hours ago
- Scoop
Construction Begins On Papakura District Court
Hon Paul Goldsmith Minister of Justice Minister for Courts Construction begins today on the new Papakura District Court which will help speed up court processes and improve critical infrastructure, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith and Courts Minister Nicole McKee say. 'Improving the quality of New Zealand's infrastructure is vital to creating jobs, growing our economy and helping Kiwis with the cost of living,' Mr Goldsmith says. 'Better and more efficient court processes means people can spend less time and money on legal battles and instead move on with their lives. Improving court timeliness and access to justice is a major part of plan to restore law and order, which we know is working. 'Courts are an important part of our social fabric, where the law is enforced, civil disputes are resolved, and the rights of individuals upheld,' Mr Goldsmith says. A modern approach is being taken when it comes to the construction of the new court. 'Half the new building is being constructed off-site. These components will be delivered as prefabricated modules and then installed onsite,' Mrs McKee says. 'This is a way of building safely and efficiently, while reducing time, cost, and material resources, as we respond to demographic changes in the fast-growing South Auckland area. 'The building will include three courtrooms, two hearing rooms and, I am pleased to note, a suite for vulnerable witnesses. Victims are our priority, and this helps return them to the heart of the justice system,' Mrs McKee says. The new courthouse is expected to open to the public in early 2027. It has an estimated construction budget of $34m.
Scoop
8 hours ago
- Scoop
Thousands Of Leaked NZ Govt And Health Agency Credentials On Dark Web
Press Release – nWebbed Julian Wendt, founder of Kiwi tech start-up nWebbed Intelligence, says the findings show New Zealand organisations are underestimating the scale and frequency of cyber risk. Thousands of leaked employee credentials from government departments, local banks and healthcare organisations are among more than 150 million compromised records tied to New Zealand accessible on the dark web, according to new research. The nWebbed NZ Cybersecurity Study, which analysed over 30 billion credentials available for sale on the dark web – a hidden part of the internet used as an illegal marketplace by criminals, has revealed an alarming level of vulnerability among Kiwi businesses, with compromised credentials linked to more than 198,000 New Zealand companies and entities. In addition, the usernames and passwords of more than 18,000 NZ Government workers, 3,200 banking staff and 2,000 healthcare organisation accounts with privileged access to sensitive information were also found in leaked databases on the dark web. The study analysed global breach records and cross-referenced them with local email domains to identify exposure. Julian Wendt, founder of Kiwi tech start-up nWebbed Intelligence, which has built the world's fastest-growing database of dark web credentials, says the findings show New Zealand organisations are underestimating the scale and frequency of cyber risk. He says an urgent review of cybersecurity protocols, credential management systems and third-party access controls across the country's sensitive institutions and corporations is needed to secure exposed systems and protect the privacy of consumers whose personal data is at risk. 'We are seeing widespread exposure of compromised credentials linked to core parts of the New Zealand economy, including health providers, government agencies, banks and large-scale businesses. 'These are trusted institutions that Kiwis interact with every day, and they are real emails and passwords sitting in the wild. They're searchable, for sale and vulnerable to exploitation,' he says. Wendt says many breaches are going undetected for months or even years, and the data is still circulating. 'It's not that someone was hacked once and that's it. In many cases, credentials from five or six separate breaches are still sitting out there, waiting to be exploited,' he says. Wendt says New Zealand urgently needs to shift away from reactive cybersecurity practices. 'You can't wait for the ransom note to start caring about where your data ends up. We need a preventative model, and that starts with visibility. 'Most organisations are watching their perimeter, not what's already leaked. But if your staff credentials are out there, especially admin or technical roles, then attackers already have the keys,' he says. Wendt says their database is growing by 2 billion credentials each month as the global rate of breaches accelerates. He says in response to the volume of sensitive credentials available online, nWebbed has launched a new threat monitoring platform that uses artificial intelligence to help organisations close critical security gaps in real time, enabling businesses to act before data is weaponised. Wendt says the time between a data leak and active exploitation is narrowing, particularly for high-value targets. 'In some cases, we've seen attackers move within minutes of credentials appearing online. They're using automated tools to scan for executive logins, technical roles or access to critical systems. 'What starts as a single leaked password can escalate into a live intrusion before an organisation even realises there's been a breach,' he says. Wendt says part of the problem is cultural. 'There's still this assumption in New Zealand that cybercrime is something that happens to big overseas companies. But in reality, our companies are being targeted every day, often because we're seen as a soft entry point into larger international networks. 'Nearly half of the Fortune 500 companies worldwide have exposed employee credentials available online, and Kiwi companies are facing similar threats. Compromised credentials can be used to access corporate networks, bypass multi-factor authentication or launch phishing attacks,' he says. Wendt says too many companies rely on outdated risk assessments and miss critical external vulnerabilities. 'Even organisations with good internal cybersecurity practices are often shocked to discover what's floating around publicly. That includes old passwords, unpatched web portals or documents they thought were private. It's not about blaming anyone, it's about visibility,' he says. Wendt says the next step is to raise awareness and get more Kiwi companies treating external digital hygiene as seriously as they do internal firewalls. 'Most breaches happen because someone didn't know their login details were already out there. This is a solvable problem if you're willing to look,' he says.
