Oral Questions for Wednesday 30 July 2025
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Energy Reserve Ensures Security For Next Decade
Energy Minister Simon Watts and Associate Energy Minister Shane Jones have welcomed an agreement by Genesis, Mercury, Meridian, and Contact to establish a strategic energy reserve, which will boost energy security and support affordable energy prices. 'New Zealand needs reliable and stable power so our households and businesses can keep their lights on, even when the wind isn't blowing, the sun isn't shining, and our hydro lakes are low,' Mr Watts says. 'Last year's dry winter highlighted vulnerabilities in our energy system with a shortage of fuel and generation led to high prices and unacceptable pressure on Kiwi industries, businesses, and households. 'This could have been avoided if New Zealand had enough fuel for electricity generation to meet our energy needs. Actions by the previous government, including a ban on new gas exploration and a drive to immediately achieve 100 percent renewable electricity, combined with disappointing drilling results from our gas fields, have left us in this difficult situation. 'I have been extremely clear with power generators that the Government expects them to deliver additional supply so we can reduce the risk of winter power shortages during periods of low lake levels. This will reduce the need for significant commercial power price spikes and the need for businesses to reduce their power use.' Genesis, Mercury, Meridian, and Contact have jointly agreed to a 10-year fuel stockpile, building resilience in the market to ensure consumers have access to fuel even when lake levels are low. 'This announcement is a positive step to show the power generators are responding. It will act as an important buffer during periods of high electricity demand in winter and when renewable generation is low,' Mr Jones says. 'While this is positive news, there is still more to do to ensure New Zealand does not see a repeat of last winter.' The Coalition Government is taking strong actions to further strengthen New Zealand's energy system. These are focused on: Ensuring the security of gas and fuel supplies. Supporting investment certainty and removing regulatory barriers through Fast-track and RMA reforms. Strengthening market competition via the work of the Energy Competition Task Force. 'All of this work is critical to easing the cost of living for Kiwis, ensuring the security and affordability of our energy system, and ultimately removing a significant barrier to economic growth,' Mr Watts says.
Scoop
12 hours ago
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FMC Responds To The Government's Proposed Overhaul Of Conservation Law And Access Charging
The purpose of our public conservation land is conservation 'The purpose of the conservation estate and the Department of Conservation is in its name: Conservation,' says FMC President Megan Dimozantos, responding to the government's proposed changes to conservation law, including the introduction of access charges. 'We don't yet know enough detail behind these announcements to signal support or otherwise. We have significant concerns about the rhetoric of uninhibited economic growth on the conservation land— that could undermine conservation values, restrict public access, and see parts of our conservation estate up for land disposals.' On Saturday, the government announced conservation reform proposals, building on a public consultation held by DOC earlier this year. FMC supports a streamlined legislative framework in principle, but strongly opposes removing the New Zealand Conservation Authority (NZCA) from the approval process for key planning documents. The NZCA is vital in ensuring decisions about public conservation land are transparent, robust, and reflect a broad range of perspectives. We do not support a system that concentrates decision-making solely in the hands of the Minister. FMC is deeply concerned about proposals that could enable the disposal or development of public conservation land—including conservation parks and stewardship land—without adequate safeguards. With only 40% of the estate fully protected, vast areas such as Forest Parks and Conservation Parks could be opened up to inappropriate development. FMC supports efficient concession processes, but not at the expense of properly assessing impacts on conservation and recreation. We welcome the government's commitment that Kiwis won't be charged to access their backyard—but questions remain about how access charging will work in practice. How visitors will be identified, compliance enforced, and whether revenue will exceed costs remain unclear. Freedom of access for Kiwis should be protected in legislation, and any revenue raised must be legally ringfenced for reinvestment in the places it comes from. FMC submitted on both the modernisation and access charging proposals earlier this year and looks forward to engaging further. 'While we support some elements in principle, we remain concerned about the broader direction signaled by this announcement,' says Dimozantos. 'Public conservation law exists first and foremost to protect the land—not to serve as a platform for economic growth.'
NZ Herald
a day ago
- NZ Herald
Doctor among several Kiwis injured on front line in Ukraine
Mark told the Herald he has 'nothing but respect' for her. 'After three years of operations, she has a very good understanding of the geopolitical situation and the tactical and strategic challenges Ukraine faces,' Mark said. For safety reasons, the Herald has not named the doctor. Mark told the Herald Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has given her Ukrainian citizenship 'in recognition of what she's done and what she's gone through'. Carterton mayor and former Defence Minister Ron Mark has recently returned from his third self-funded trip to Ukraine. Photo / Neil Reid Mark, a former captain in the New Zealand Army, first visited Ukraine in May 2022 and has visited twice more to meet New Zealand humanitarians, medics, and members of Ukraine's Foreign Legion. The Foreign Legion is an armed force made up of volunteers who have travelled to Ukraine from around the world, including New Zealanders. Mark doesn't travel in any official capacity, taking annual leave from his role as Mayor and funding his own travel. He told the Herald he has become an unofficial sounding board for many Kiwis considering travelling to fight in Ukraine, receiving calls and texts day and night. Southwest of Irpin, Ukraine, a highway is now lined with the burnt husks of Russian armoured vehicles, which have become a tourist attraction for Ukrainians. Photo / Olena Kalashnikova At least four New Zealanders are known to have died in the European nation since Russia invaded in February 2022: three soldiers and an aid worker. Mark said his travels have alerted him to 'considerably more' Kiwis also maimed on battlefields there. He wouldn't elaborate further, except to say dozens of Kiwis have signed up to fight in the Ukraine Foreign Legion. Most buildings in the city of Irpin, Ukraine, were damaged or destroyed by Russian forces. Photo / Olena Kalashnikova Kiwis who have died there include three members of the Ukraine Foreign Legion: Dominic Abelen, Kane Te Tai and Shan-Le Kearns. Abelen volunteered to fight in Ukraine after taking leave from the NZDF. Te Tai is another former NZDF soldier, who previously served in Afghanistan. Kearns did not have a military background but trained in Ukraine. He died while trying to rescue injured comrades. The confirmed Kiwi death toll also includes aid worker Andrew Bagshaw who lost his life alongside an English colleague when their car was reportedly hit by a Russian artillery shell. 'There's considerably more than that. Kiwis that have been wounded... some badly wounded,' Mark told the Herald. Former Defence Minister Ron Mark wants Kiwis who travel to Ukraine to fight Russian forces to be eligible for Veterans' Affairs support when they return home. Photo / Neil Reid 'Despite their wounds, [they] have gone back. [They have] been patched up, put together, either in hospitals in Germany, Britain or in Kyiv, and they've gone back into the fight again,' he said. Some – including ex-New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) soldiers – had decided to return to New Zealand, Mark said, only to later return to fight. Mark said he fears more Kiwis will be injured or killed - or suffer lasting psychological wounds from what they witness. Dominic Abelen (left to right) and Kane Te Tai both lost their lives fighting in Ukraine. Photo / Supplied For that reason, he wants those who serve in Ukraine to be eligible for support from Veterans' Affairs New Zealand - the Government department that offers health, rehabilitation and financial help to eligible NZDF veterans. Mark said while those fighting weren't serving New Zealand officially, an argument could be made they were delivering 'lethal aid' to Ukraine just as the New Zealand Government is via funding and training. 'Why would we not recognise that there are some New Zealanders who are paying their own air fares, putting their own lives on the line, and going and delivering lethal aid directly themselves,' he said. Shan-le Kearns, 26, is the fourth New Zealander known to have died in Ukraine. Photo / Supplied 'I'd argue, isn't there a moral obligation [to] these men and women?' Minister for Veterans Chris Penk told the Herald the entitlements would remain available only to those serving 'at the direction of the New Zealand Government'. There were no plans to extend Veterans' Affairs New Zealand support to people travelling to Ukraine on their own. 'The Government has not considered extending veterans' entitlements to New Zealanders who travel to Ukraine for combat or humanitarian reasons,' Penk said. 'Doing so could be seen as endorsing these actions, which is not the New Zealand Government's position. 'We strongly advise New Zealanders against travelling to conflict zones. In many cases, we may be unable to offer consular support if they are harmed or wish to return home.' Minister for Veterans Chris Penk says the Government has no plans to extend veterans help for individuals who travel to Ukraine on their own, to fight. Photo / Mark Mitchell Penk said New Zealand remained 'steadfast' in its support for Ukraine 'in the face of Russia's illegal and unprovoked invasion'. While New Zealand was not a combatant, its support was unwavering, he said. 'We have provided humanitarian and military assistance, including financial aid and the deployment of up to 100 New Zealand Defence Force personnel to help train Ukrainian troops in the UK and Europe.' Neil Reid is a Napier-based senior reporter who covers general news, features and sport. He joined the Herald in 2014 and has 33 years of newsroom experience. Sign up to The Daily H, a free newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
