National party creates doubt over meeting emissions reduction targets
Fuel sector announcements yesterday prompted the National party to confirm it would not support a biofuel mandate, creating uncertainty for industry players
Mōrena and welcome to The Bulletin for Thursday, November 10, by Anna Rawhiti-Connell. Presented in partnership with Z Energy.
In today’s edition: halt ordered on destruction of DOC huts; US midterm results so far; environment concerns raised about Amazon’s Lord of The Rings production in New Zealand but first, fuel sector announcements create questions about cost of living trade-offs and uncertainty for sector over biofuel investment
Energy minister Megan Woods announced a suite of fuel sector measures yesterday (Image: Tina Tiller)
Delay to biofuel mandate
Yesterday, two days after the UN secretary general told those gathered at Cop27 that “we were on a highway to climate hell”, energy minister Megan Woods announced a suite of fuel sector measures. Newsroom Pro’s Jono Milne says that the starkest headline among them was the postponement of the transport biofuels mandate by a year, through to April 2024. Milne writes that the delay comes at a cost of 1m tonnes of emissions. Milne says it highlights the government is most concerned about the cost of living ahead of next year’s election and not the generational challenge of climate change. The fuel announcement landed not long after the one about our commitment to climate loss funding. “New Zealand gives with one hand, while taking with the other.” writes Milne.
Biofuel mandate regulations yet to be finalised
There is high global demand for biodiesel, which Woods says is, in part, because of the global energy shortages created by the war in Ukraine. Energy Resources Aotearoa estimates that the biofuel mandate would add between 6 and 10 cents a litre to the already high price of diesel. Fuel sector representatives said the Government’s original deadline of April next year was not practical given the regulations had yet to be finalised and that it couldn’t make investments in the necessary infrastructure without that happening first. Woods said the delay (paywalled) would “allow wholesalers to get the necessary infrastructure in place and to source high-quality feedstocks”.
National intends to scrap the biofuels mandate
The National party created further uncertainty for the fuel sector yesterday. Energy spokesman Stuart Smith confirmed it would not support the mandate if it won next year’s general election. The Herald’s Adam Pearse writes “National’s intention to scrap the Government’s plan to use biofuels to reduce emissions puts fuel companies in a bind that could jeopardise the industry’s ability to meet climate change targets. Gull New Zealand chief executive Dave Bodger said “I’m not saying there’s going to be a change of government, but we will be investing tens of millions of dollars on this, so certainty is key going forward.”
Industry seems unbothered by Commerce Commission’s ability to step in
Yesterday’s announcement also included the news that the government had agreed to give the Commerce Commission the right “to step in” and set fair prices for fuel if needed. Stuff’s Tom Pullar-Strecker has the clearest analysis of this. It’s been on the table since the commission concluded its market study into the industry in 2019 and is the last recommendation to be put in place. It’s a regulatory backstop. The fuel sector already provides data on its margins and profitability to the Commerce Commission on a regular basis. Most of the fuel sector representatives Pullar-Strecker spoke to seemed unbothered by it. Gull’s Dave Bodger “appeared to sum up the phlegmatic mood of petrol firms when he admitted he had ‘forgotten about this part of the regulation’”.
Brace yourselves, Mister Organ is here
For fans of David Farrier’s strange deep-dives into the corners of culture that some would prefer remain hidden (Tickled, Dark Tourist), his new documentary Mister Organ will not disappoint.The film paints a vivid portrait of a troubled and dangerous individual – the man at the centre of the Bashford Antiques clamping stories in 2016 – that will leave you in both laughter and fear. Don’t miss Mister Organ, in cinemas now.
High court shuts down plan to destroy DOC huts in Te Urewera
Tūhoe's governing authority had planned to get rid of about 48 Department of Conservation huts from Te Urewera. The department supported those plans but hundreds of people including Tūhoe kaumātua have protested against it. A protest was held in late October against the 'desecration' of the huts. Yesterday the High Court ordered an immediate halt to destruction of the huts, 29 of which have already been demolished or removed. In an interim ruling Justice Mark Woolford said the Te Urewera Board and the Trustees of Tūhoe – Te Uru Taumatua, their employees and contractors, must “immediately cease their programme to demolish or remove the huts”. A spokesperson for Trustees of Tūhoe – Te Uru Taumatua said they would be complying with the interim injunction.
Red wave does not materialise in US midterms
We will not know the results in some of the key races for a while yet and control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate still hangs in the balance, but most media are billing US midterm results to date as a disappointment for Republicans. As the New York Times reports, both parties will be intently watching results in Senate races in Arizona, Georgia and Nevada. In Pennsylvania, Democrats flipped a Senate seat as John Fetterman beat Mehmet Oz. Fetterman, who suffered a near fatal stroke in May, gave his victory speech in a hoodie, his now trademark arm tattoos visible, as he said he was proud of running on a platform of protecting a woman’s right to choose. Abortion rights have been something of a lightening rod during these elections. Mehmet Oz is better known as Dr Oz, who found fame on the Oprah Winfrey show. The Guardian has some good analysis on early lessons from the elections so far. Candidates who banked on the power of association with Donald Trump haven’t done well.
Serious concerns raised about environmental impact of major film and TV productions in NZ
Coinciding with Cop27 is a new report that looks at the environmental practices of the creative industries in the UK. It found that efforts are largely ad hoc and government help is required. The Guardian has just followed up on reports from crew who worked on Amazon’s Lord of the Rings - Rings of Power series and other international productions shot in New Zealand. Workers involved say that “behind the glamour and cashflow the industry is touted for lie serious concerns about its enormous environmental impact, including emissions and waste, partly underwritten by New Zealand’s government”. Amazon says “Sustainability practices in New Zealand for the first season of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power either met or exceeded industry standards.”
Click and collect
Prime Minister to travel to Southeast Asia to attend the East Asia Summit and Apec
All the winners from this year’s Aotearoa Music Awards
Reserve Bank not likely to impose debt-to-income controls on mortgage lending before March 2024 at the earliest
Kiwi return to the wild in Wellington for first time in generations
Sam Uffindell announces new portfolio roles on Instagram, seemingly ahead of any party announcement. National says it’s not related to the upcoming reshuffle Christopher Luxon has planned before the end of the year.
Got some feedback about The Bulletin, or anything in the news? Get in touch with me at thebulletin@thespinoff.co.nz.
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Poi: the start of a new kiwi sporting phenomenon?
Loved this feature from LockerRoom’s Suzanne McFadden on the poi phenomenon at the Rugby World Cup. As McFadden writes, the poi fans have been swinging at RWC games are sneaking their way into other sporting events including the Fast5 Netball World Series in Christchurch, and the Rugby League World Cup in England. They’re less accidentally perilous than flags, less noisy than thunder sticks and “don’t even bring up cowbells”.
Oh, and I would write this in smaller type if I could but the Blacks Caps did not win their T20 World Cup semi-final against Pakistan last night. Post-mortem here.
