Taranaki model for oil & gas exploration – Heatley

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Taranaki model for oil & gas exploration – Heatley

3News NZ

Energy and Resources Minister Phil Heatley

Energy and Resources Minister Phil Heatley

Oil and gas exploration is critical to the country's economic growth, or so says the National Party.

But there is huge opposition to it. So how does the Government overcome red tape and public opposition to mining?

The minister in charge is Energy and Resources Minister Phil Heatley.

Mr Heatley spoke with The Nation, with questions from Alex Tarrant of Interest.co.nz and John Hartevelt, Fairfax Media political journalist.  

Watch the video for the full interview.

3 News

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Comments

4/08/2012 8:06:25 p.m.

Aroha Wihapi wrote:

very good interview this, I agree that people become gay through event of life I disagree that people are born gay... I have many gay friends and listening to their past life ordeals this confirms to me they were not born gay, very good arguement Colin from Conservative

30/07/2012 6:16:08 a.m.

George wrote:

Clearly Minister Heatley has a mind block of some sort, there was a accident involving a oil spill within the surrounding waters of Marsden Point/Whangarei, spilling hundreds of litres of oil into coastal waters and on land at Marsden Point some years back. While there has not been an accident of recent, his statement is far from the facts. This cause a lot of damage to small estuaries, and surrounding coastal islands.

29/07/2012 8:35:26 a.m.

Alison McCulloch wrote:

As someone who's done some research and writing on this issue (e.g. a column in yesterday's Bay of Plenty Times; articles in Werewolf.co.nz, including one forthcoming next week), I was disappointed that Mr. Heatley wasn't challenged on issues like: * Why is Waihi among the nation's poorest communities despite its having three gold mines in its midst? Is this really the jobs/growth bonanza for local communities that boosters often portray it as? Take a closer look at this. If local communities aren't benefiting as much as they should be, why not and how can we change that? * Why did the reporters allow Mr. Heatley to lump taxes and royalties in together to make the percentage the companies pay look bigger? Royalties and taxes are completely separate. Royalties are what the companies pay Kiwis for OUR resource. * Why was the broader spectrum of objectors largely ignored? (The questions tended to malign environmentalists and set them up as the only critics of mining) In Waihi, for example, there are many locals who support the mines but who have health issues, property damage issues, depreciation issues, and many more. It is simply NOT greenies vs. miners. * It struck me as extraordinary that the idea of nationalising mining decision making, which means taking it out of the hands of local people, was all but promoted on the show. As if the poor, weak mining companies need a government assist to win out over their powerful, wealthy critics. * This issue is more so much complex than the current stereotype of obstructive greenies versus people who care about jobs, and yet that narrative was frequently reinforced in the questioning of Mr. Heatley. Yes, it was good to see the issue being discussed on a serious current affairs show, so kudos for that, but it would be even better to step outside the box and dig a bit deeper in talking about this issue.

29/07/2012 8:24:38 a.m.

Gerald Tait wrote:

Why can't we have a citizens' dividend like the Alaskan one where every citizen gets three thousand dollars from the oil royalties?

29/07/2012 8:13:14 a.m.

Shane Jansen wrote:

Wil the government require a bond up front so there is money for clean up in case of accident or for cleanup at end of project.