July 31, 2025 • 5 mins
Oil and gas exploration is once again allowed in New Zealand.
Coalition parties voted to overturn the ban introduced by the previous Government to strong resistance from all opposition parties.
Newstalk ZB political editor Jason Walls wonders what this means for investors - and if they'll want to commit to New Zealand.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
We're enjoined now by our political editor Jason Walls. You're
still here, Y're still here.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
By what they say.
Speaker 1 (00:08):
Every time I told to you, I think it's the
last time I'm going to talk to you. But now
here we are once again.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
Every different time as a present for me.
Speaker 1 (00:14):
As a joy and delight and oil. I guess expiration
is back on the menu. Boys.
Speaker 2 (00:19):
Indeed, great Lord of the Rings reference there, mister Dickens.
As expected this past in the House today with the
government parties voting for it and the opposition voting against it,
so there was not really anything outside of the ordinary there.
The debate was, as also expected, quite fierce at times.
Here's what Meagan Wood said during her speech.
Speaker 3 (00:38):
The government needs to front up with some facts to
New Zealanders and come claim that what they are doing
is right wing virtue signaling and it is nothing more
than an ideological desire to look to the past instead
of investing in the future.
Speaker 2 (00:56):
So there were quite a few speeches along that line.
Right wing virtue signaling seemed to be the labor parties
go to freeze acts. Simon Court also had a crack
at the labor in the Greens.
Speaker 4 (01:07):
And mister Steve Abel, I tell you how important it
is for you and even people in the Green Party.
It's those critical minerals that this bill will enable to
be extracted and developed, that power your solar panels, your satellites,
your mobile phone, that keeps humans like all of us,
(01:28):
even building the Green Party connected and on social media.
Speaker 2 (01:31):
So he was directing that at Steve Abel who is
from the Green Party, and Green Stephen Abel rather had
a clap back for him.
Speaker 5 (01:40):
That is why it is a futile effort on the
part of this government to try and bring this industry back,
because this industry knows full well that when this side
of the house is back on that side of the
House in eighteen months time, the ban on oil and
gas is coming back into place.
Speaker 2 (01:56):
So I actually think that is one of the most
important things that were said in this debate, because the
government can reverse the ban. But if you're an oil
and a gas company, why the heck would you bother
coming here? You could be losing billions and billions of
dollars because another government might reverse the reversal of the
oil and gas ban, and then another one might come
in and reverse the reversal of the reversal, so it's
(02:16):
just not really worth it for these big companies.
Speaker 1 (02:18):
Shane Jones has been nice about this, like how are
you going to ring fience and how are you going
to strengthen it and make sure that that doesn't happen
that we don't have flip flops? So has he got
an answer for it?
Speaker 2 (02:27):
Shane Jones wasn't actually here today unfortunately it was his
baby in the house, but he wasn't the one shepherding
it through today. It was Simon Watts as Energy Minister.
But I'm sure listen, it's a bit tough because governments
are sovereign. They're elected by the country, so if they
want to do something, they can do it.
Speaker 1 (02:43):
Okay, Now the Malting Party and they're taking legal action
over alleged voter de registration.
Speaker 2 (02:49):
They are indeed departy Marty have filed urgent proceedings in
the High Court following what they say is an alarming
reports that Marty acts across the country have been removed
from the electoral role or shifted off the Mahdi roll
without their knowledge, content or due process. Quote. We are
witnessing what can only be described as voter suppression. Our
farmao are being stripped of their democratic right in silence.
(03:12):
And that's according to TI Party Marii co leader Debbie Nadi,
were packat now pretty serious allegations here. The party has
sent formal letters to both the Electoral Commission, the Ministry
of Justice and the Ombudsman demanding urgent action, including a
full investigation of the enrollment system and an extensive registration
or an extensive look into the registration process in the
(03:35):
upcoming Tamaki Makoto by election. Now, if I were Tea
Party Marii, I'd probably not raise issues to do with
electoral problems when it comes to Tamaki Maikoto given the
investigations around their own voting behavior in the Manu Rewa
Marai and the last election. But hey, that's just me.
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith, who's in charge of the Electoral Commission,
(03:55):
was asked about this and he said, there's nothing to
see here.
Speaker 6 (03:58):
Well, yes, I am consumed by the reports or the
advice I've had from the Electoral Commission is that they
can see no issue. So if the multi party suggesting
that there is, my encouragement of them is to give
some specific details to the Electoral Commission and let them join.
Speaker 2 (04:13):
So the Electoral Commission have actually said that they've heard
some concerns that people have been unable to find their
employment records or it's our enrollment records on the website,
and they've checked and there are no technical issues with
our enrollment system. Quote. If you can't find your enrollment record,
it might be because you're not enrolled, or you're on
the unpublished role. There are a few other reasons why
(04:34):
enrollment records might not come up immediately or might not
be available on Volte New Zealand. So they're saying nothing
to see here as well. But I guess we'll wait
to see what the High Court says.
Speaker 1 (04:42):
I guess on the previous issue where you said that's
just me, don't worry, Jason, it's not just you.
Speaker 2 (04:47):
I didn't think it was.
Speaker 1 (04:48):
It's me too, and an awful lot of other people
who have an awful lot of concerns. And Jason, it's
been lovely working with you. I'm presuming this is the
last time we talked, but then again, that could be
wrong as well. And I thank you for more.
Speaker 4 (04:58):
From hither duplessy Ellen dro listen live to news talks.
Speaker 5 (05:01):
It'd be from four pm weekdays, or follow the podcast
on iHeartRadio
We're enjoined now by our political editor Jason Walls. You're
still here, Y're still here.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
By what they say.
Speaker 1 (00:08):
Every time I told to you, I think it's the
last time I'm going to talk to you. But now
here we are once again.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
Every different time as a present for me.
Speaker 1 (00:14):
As a joy and delight and oil. I guess expiration
is back on the menu. Boys.
Speaker 2 (00:19):
Indeed, great Lord of the Rings reference there, mister Dickens.
As expected this past in the House today with the
government parties voting for it and the opposition voting against it,
so there was not really anything outside of the ordinary there.
The debate was, as also expected, quite fierce at times.
Here's what Meagan Wood said during her speech.
Speaker 3 (00:38):
The government needs to front up with some facts to
New Zealanders and come claim that what they are doing
is right wing virtue signaling and it is nothing more
than an ideological desire to look to the past instead
of investing in the future.
Speaker 2 (00:56):
So there were quite a few speeches along that line.
Right wing virtue signaling seemed to be the labor parties
go to freeze acts. Simon Court also had a crack
at the labor in the Greens.
Speaker 4 (01:07):
And mister Steve Abel, I tell you how important it
is for you and even people in the Green Party.
It's those critical minerals that this bill will enable to
be extracted and developed, that power your solar panels, your satellites,
your mobile phone, that keeps humans like all of us,
(01:28):
even building the Green Party connected and on social media.
Speaker 2 (01:31):
So he was directing that at Steve Abel who is
from the Green Party, and Green Stephen Abel rather had
a clap back for him.
Speaker 5 (01:40):
That is why it is a futile effort on the
part of this government to try and bring this industry back,
because this industry knows full well that when this side
of the house is back on that side of the
House in eighteen months time, the ban on oil and
gas is coming back into place.
Speaker 2 (01:56):
So I actually think that is one of the most
important things that were said in this debate, because the
government can reverse the ban. But if you're an oil
and a gas company, why the heck would you bother
coming here? You could be losing billions and billions of
dollars because another government might reverse the reversal of the
oil and gas ban, and then another one might come
in and reverse the reversal of the reversal, so it's
(02:16):
just not really worth it for these big companies.
Speaker 1 (02:18):
Shane Jones has been nice about this, like how are
you going to ring fience and how are you going
to strengthen it and make sure that that doesn't happen
that we don't have flip flops? So has he got
an answer for it?
Speaker 2 (02:27):
Shane Jones wasn't actually here today unfortunately it was his
baby in the house, but he wasn't the one shepherding
it through today. It was Simon Watts as Energy Minister.
But I'm sure listen, it's a bit tough because governments
are sovereign. They're elected by the country, so if they
want to do something, they can do it.
Speaker 1 (02:43):
Okay, Now the Malting Party and they're taking legal action
over alleged voter de registration.
Speaker 2 (02:49):
They are indeed departy Marty have filed urgent proceedings in
the High Court following what they say is an alarming
reports that Marty acts across the country have been removed
from the electoral role or shifted off the Mahdi roll
without their knowledge, content or due process. Quote. We are
witnessing what can only be described as voter suppression. Our
farmao are being stripped of their democratic right in silence.
(03:12):
And that's according to TI Party Marii co leader Debbie Nadi,
were packat now pretty serious allegations here. The party has
sent formal letters to both the Electoral Commission, the Ministry
of Justice and the Ombudsman demanding urgent action, including a
full investigation of the enrollment system and an extensive registration
or an extensive look into the registration process in the
(03:35):
upcoming Tamaki Makoto by election. Now, if I were Tea
Party Marii, I'd probably not raise issues to do with
electoral problems when it comes to Tamaki Maikoto given the
investigations around their own voting behavior in the Manu Rewa
Marai and the last election. But hey, that's just me.
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith, who's in charge of the Electoral Commission,
(03:55):
was asked about this and he said, there's nothing to
see here.
Speaker 6 (03:58):
Well, yes, I am consumed by the reports or the
advice I've had from the Electoral Commission is that they
can see no issue. So if the multi party suggesting
that there is, my encouragement of them is to give
some specific details to the Electoral Commission and let them join.
Speaker 2 (04:13):
So the Electoral Commission have actually said that they've heard
some concerns that people have been unable to find their
employment records or it's our enrollment records on the website,
and they've checked and there are no technical issues with
our enrollment system. Quote. If you can't find your enrollment record,
it might be because you're not enrolled, or you're on
the unpublished role. There are a few other reasons why
(04:34):
enrollment records might not come up immediately or might not
be available on Volte New Zealand. So they're saying nothing
to see here as well. But I guess we'll wait
to see what the High Court says.
Speaker 1 (04:42):
I guess on the previous issue where you said that's
just me, don't worry, Jason, it's not just you.
Speaker 2 (04:47):
I didn't think it was.
Speaker 1 (04:48):
It's me too, and an awful lot of other people
who have an awful lot of concerns. And Jason, it's
been lovely working with you. I'm presuming this is the
last time we talked, but then again, that could be
wrong as well. And I thank you for more.
Speaker 4 (04:58):
From hither duplessy Ellen dro listen live to news talks.
Speaker 5 (05:01):
It'd be from four pm weekdays, or follow the podcast
on iHeartRadio
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