Neil Holdom: New Plymouth mayor urges Labour to support oil and gas exploration

New Plymouth's mayor says it's time for a cross-party energy strategy.

Neil Holdom has a background in the energy industry, and is asking the Labour Party to support oil and gas exploration - onshore and off - through to 2050.

Labour banned it while in Government.

Holdom says Labour has an opportunity to come and work on a joint policy that offers the best of both worlds.

"If we can get National and Labour to work on a joint policy that's sensible, based on science and economics - we can keep our economy going, we can reduce emissions."

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Heather duper c Ellen.

Speaker 2 (00:01):
New Plumot's mayor Neil Holdham has hit out Labor, saying
that the party's position on oil and gas means it
has effectively turned the tap off for the New Zealand
gas industry. Labor remains committed to rebanning oil and gas
exploration if the current government reinstates at which they planing
to do, and if Labor managers to get back in.

Speaker 1 (00:19):
Now.

Speaker 2 (00:19):
The current electricity crisis has hit Taranaki particularly hard. News
today that meth and X has shut down his operation
until the end of October. Neil hold Him is with us. Now, Hey, Neil,
get a Heather, what's your reaction to the Methadex news.

Speaker 1 (00:32):
Oh? Look, I mean that they are an awesome company
that's basically taking one for the team to keep the
lights on for New Zealand because of a failed energy
policy that is going to drive up everybody's power bills
next year. And I mean I have put the call
out to Megan Woods, the energy spokesvis and for Labor

(00:54):
and Chris Upkins to tell us, you know, how do
they feel about the fact that Huntley has ordered three
one hundred and fifty thousand tons of coal for next
year based on the fact that we don't have enough gas.
And I think you know that their policy was about,
you know, turning off the gas industry on the basis

(01:14):
that oh, that'll get a change, it will reduce the
change the way we run the power system. Well, I've
got news for them, and they know this. We're going
to build an LNG import facility. It makes sense. It's
going to be built in the next two to three years.
So trying to kill off local gas, killing off those

(01:36):
local jobs, all you're doing is just transferring that money
to companies overseas. So they've got an opportunity to come
to the party. And realistically, what I've said is, you know,
all along, if we can get national and labor to
work on a joint policy that's sensible based on science
and economics, we can keep our economy going. We can

(01:59):
reduce some mission. But when we have this kind of
table Tennis like thing, where you know, the electoral outcome
changes and the policy changes, no one's going to invest
in that environment. And that's why we're short of gas
and electricity too.

Speaker 2 (02:13):
Right, they've put out a statement and they've already killed
off one of the things that you're asking for. They say,
we have bottom lines. Restarting oil and gas exploration is
not something we could agree to.

Speaker 1 (02:24):
And I think, I mean my message to them is
so I my understanding is that labors heavily financially backed
by the union. So what about the unionized workers in
those sawmills in the Central North Island and the pulp
mills and Penrose and Central North Island that have been
sent home from work? What about the work is at
Methodics that have been sent home, the work is at

(02:44):
t y that have been sent home. I mean it
seems counterintuitive to say, you know, we're going to stick
to our policy despite the fact that it's failed. And
the minute that you plug into LNG and the international market,
it's like, you know, why would you buy something off
shore when you can produce it here?

Speaker 2 (03:05):
Yeah, totally, Neil. Have you heard for them? I mean,
you obviously have a relationship with them, right you spoke
to them before they did the oil and gas ban
in twenty eighteen. They ignored you. You've obviously reached out
to them with what you're saying right now. Have you
heard anything from them?

Speaker 1 (03:17):
I've heard that. Thank you for letting us know the
questions are coming, and I've been invited to an event
later this month in the Beehive talking about energy policy,
and I've said I'll go along because look, I've always
had of you that I'll work with all parties, because
our goal has been the same thing that Tata MAACKI
has been trying to do for a long time. Keep

(03:38):
the lights on, work with everybody, find a way forward
that works.

Speaker 2 (03:41):
Neil, what's this event? Are they announcing their energy policy
this month?

Speaker 1 (03:46):
I think it's a sort of an energy summit. I
haven't had the details. I just got asked if I
wanted to go, and I said, yep, absolutely Keen. I
actually asked if they'd be brave enough to let me
have a speaking slot so I could share my views
and views of the energy businesses operating in Taranaki. So
we want to work with everyone, and we want to
find that middle way forward that allows people to keep

(04:08):
their jobs and you know, to keep exporting goods overseas
that pay for all of the government services that people want.

Speaker 2 (04:16):
Mat thank you so much for your time. Best of
luck fighting the good fight on this one. That's Neil
Holdham new Plymot smeare for more from Heather Duplessy Allen Drive.
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