New Zealand’s economic future is imperiled by activist judges, politicians who do not understand science and the “weaponisation” of Maori culture, according to Shane Jones.
The Minister of Resources and Associate Minister of Energy was speaking to a breakfast of energy professionals in Wellington.
In this speech, NZ First's Jones outlined his vision for New Zealand in 2040, saying extractive industries like mining should have a respected place in the economy.
“I will be a champion for working families who derive their income, their hope and their purpose through a flourishing, growing and forward-leaning energy sector," said Jones.
“You and I have allowed ideologies to conquer what is a legitimate part of the New Zealand economy, ie digging things up.”
Jones called the idea of not needing natural gas by 2030 “fanciful”, saying the previous Government’s ban on oil and gas exploration offshore endangered New Zealand’s sovereign risk, and he went on to attack the intellectual quality of political debate on this matter.
“I have little confidence that we are producing politicians other than a small group in the current government who want to fight this fight on the basis of economics and science,” he said.
“That has been surrendered some time ago to religion….if I want to apologise to God I will see you in church on Sunday.”
Jones also assailed the use of Maori culture to block economic development that he believed was essential for everyone.
“I am personally horrified by the notion that the prospects of offshore mining can turn on the courts’ view of Tikanga Maori," he said.
“I am Maori, I learned the language from my grandmother, and I put my credentials up against any one in New Zealand."
“(I oppose) the weaponisation and distortion of my culture by people who want to substantially change the ethos and the direction of our country on the basis of eco-catastrophisation and colonial guilt.”
Jones then chided the growth in power by the courts over parliament, saying it was undemocratic, and he cited a recent Supreme Court decision concerning the activist Mike Smith.
Smith was recently granted the right to sue seven large greenhouse gas emitting companies, including Fonterra, Z Energy and Genesis Energy.
In its decision, the Supreme Court upheld his right to go to court over their emissions after he had been denied earlier in the Court of Appeal.
Jones told his audience questions like this were complex ones and they should be decided by parliament, not the courts.
“There will be trade-offs on environmental decisions, but who do you want to make those trade offs?” he asked.
“Do you want elected representatives to do that on your behalf or do you want the Supreme Court to do it.”
And Jones argued this action by Smith would be the first of many.
“I see a situation where the next random litigant will be taking on the fishing industry, and then they’ll go to other elements of the extractive sector, and even horticulture.”
Jones said matters like this must be decided by the people’s elected representatives, not by an “Americanised” court system which gives increasing power to unelected judges.
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