Last week the Interim Climate Change Committee (ICCC) released a report warning of the dangers in trying to replace natural gas in our electricity system. They explain how natural gas is so important in keeping electricity prices down by providing “backup generation when demand is very high and/ or the...
The Energy Voices campaign has started a new and revitalised phase. Over the rest of this year we’ll be sharing a series of new videos and graphics outlining how important natural gas is to the cost of living and quality of life for New Zealanders. We’ll be explaining...
The Energy Voices campaign objective has been to bring home to the public and the Government how expensive and damaging the ban on new exploration will be. We have highlighted the stories of the workers and businesses most affected, but there was always going to...
The hurried legislation putting the exploration ban into law used a terrible process in terms of how Parliament is supposed to operate. The very short time allowed for submissions and deliberation showed how little confidence Government MPs had in the decision. It deserved far more consultation...
The new year is often a time for reflection on what was achieved and how we can do better. As 2019 begins, the impact of the rushed decision to end new exploration permits for oil and natural gas is beginning to be felt.The decisions were...
Kiwis love their cars. So much so that the Government is very disappointed in us for buying new ones.There were over 4 million vehicles on our roads last year. Almost entirely fuelled by petrol and diesel. This is vital to our transport system and our...
Natural gas isn’t something most people worry about. It heats the shower in the morning and others cook their dinner with it. For most Kiwis, gas is something that fires up the barbie. Most people are used to flicking the switch on in the morning and...
One of New Zealand’s great philosophers, Rachel Hunter once said "it won’t happen overnight, but it will happen." And that sage advice is particularly apt when it comes to the development of new energy technologies. Many who have advocated for the ban on new exploration of...
Many New Zealand home-owners are going to be opening power bills in coming months and getting a shock as sky-high wholesale electricity prices hit home. A combination of low hydro lake levels and a shortage of gas (only temporary this time) from a production outage...
Energy Voices has been able to spark a good debate about the decision to end new oil and natural gas exploration. It is sad that this discussion wasn’t held before the decision that was made. But at least now people are grappling with the various points...