Wellington (New Zealand) (AFP) - New Zealand is halting all new offshore oil and gas exploration to become a global leader in the fight against climate change, the centre-left government said Thursday, but opponents accused it of "economic vandalism".

"(We are) taking an important step to address climate change and create a clean, green and sustainable future for New Zealand," Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said.

The oil and gas industry in New Zealand generates about NZ$2.5 billion a year ($1.8 billion), including NZ$1.5 billion in exports, and employs about 11,000 people.

Ardern said existing drilling and exploration permits would not be affected, meaning no existing jobs would be lost.

She said there would also be limited new on-shore permits around the North Island's Taranaki region, where most of New Zealand industry is concentrated.

"We're striking the right balance for New Zealand -- we're protecting existing industry and protecting future generations from climate change," she said.

The move by New Zealand comes two weeks after the Netherlands announced plans to rapidly cut production at -- and eventually close -- Europe's biggest gas field as it too seeks to its slash fossil fuel use.

Ardern campaigned heavily on environmental issues when she won a general election last year and is in a three-way coalition government that includes the Greens.

She said she saw the impact of climate change first-hand last month when she visited the cyclone-ravaged Pacific island nations of Samoa and Tonga.

This, she said, underscored the fact that climate change was real and New Zealand needed to be at the forefront of efforts to address it.

"We?ve been a world leader on critical issues... by being nuclear free, the first to support women to vote," she said.

"Now we could be a world leader in becoming carbon neutral. We owe this to future generations."

The government said there were currently 31 oil and gas exploration permits, with 22 of them offshore.

Environmental groups welcomed the move, with Greenpeace declaring "the tide has turned irreversibly against Big Oil in New Zealand".

"This is a huge step forward for New Zealand and a landmark moment in the transition to a clean-energy economy," WWF New Zealand chief Livia Esterhazy said.

But the conservative opposition National Party accused Ardern of "economic vandalism" that could put thousands of jobs at risk.

Opposition energy spokesman Jonathan Young said gas helped ensure New Zealand's electricity supply and when existing reserves ran out in 10 years it would be forced to import emissions-heavy alternatives such as coal.

"This decision is devoid of any rationale. It certainly has nothing to do with climate change," he said.

"These changes will simply shift production elsewhere in the world, not reduce emissions."

New Plymouth mayor Neil Holdom said the decision was "a kick in the guts" for the Taranaki region.

"Nobody's going to be losing their jobs overnight but in terms of the long-term outlook for those industries... people are going 'my career doesn't actually have a future'," he told Radio New Zealand.

Industry group Petroleum Exploration and Production NZ (PEPANZ) said it had been blindsided by the announcement and had not been consulted by the government.

Chief executive Cameron Madgwick said a well-managed trading scheme was the way to reduce New Zealand's emissions, not "arbitrarily banning" certain fuel types.

"We now join the elite club of Belize, Costa Rica and France that have banned exploration. I don't think that's really the way the world's going," he told TV3.

Ardern said industry had been given plenty of time to adjust to changes in the sector that were a long-term necessity.

"Transitions have to start somewhere and unless we make decisions today that will essentially take place in thirty years time, we risk abrupt shocks," she said.</s>Wellington: New Zealand is halting all new offshore oil and gas exploration to become a global leader in the fight against climate change, the centre-left government said Thursday, but opponents accused it of 'economic vandalism'.

 

 "(We are) taking an important step to address climate change and create a clean, green and sustainable future for New Zealand," Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said.

 

 The oil and gas industry in New Zealand generates about NZD2.5 billion a year (USD1.8 billion), including NZD1.5 billion in exports, and employs about 11,000 people.

 

 Ardern said existing drilling and exploration permits would not be affected, meaning no existing jobs would be lost.

 

 She said there would also be limited new on-shore permits around the North Island's Taranaki region, where most of New Zealand industry is concentrated.

 

 "We're striking the right balance for New Zealand -- we're protecting existing industry and protecting future generations from climate change," she said.

 

 The move by New Zealand comes two weeks after the Netherlands announced plans to rapidly cut production at -- and eventually close -- Europe's biggest gas field as it too seeks to its slash fossil fuel use.

 

 Ardern campaigned heavily on environmental issues when she won a general election last year and is in a three-way coalition government that includes the Greens.

 

 She said she saw the impact of climate change first-hand last month when she visited the cyclone-ravaged Pacific island nations of Samoa and Tonga.

 

 This, she said, underscored the fact that climate change was real and New Zealand needed to be at the forefront of efforts to address it.

 

 "We've been a world leader on critical issues... by being nuclear free, the first to support women to vote," she said.

 

 "Now we could be a world leader in becoming carbon neutral. We owe this to future generations."

 

 The government said there were currently 31 oil and gas exploration permits, with 22 of them offshore.

 

 Environmental groups welcomed the move, with Greenpeace declaring "the tide has turned irreversibly against Big Oil in New Zealand".

 

 "This is a huge step forward for New Zealand and a landmark moment in the transition to a clean-energy economy," WWF New Zealand chief Livia Esterhazy said.

 

 'Kick in the guts'

 

 But the conservative opposition National Party accused Ardern of "economic vandalism" that could put thousands of jobs at risk.

 

 Opposition energy spokesman Jonathan Young said gas helped ensure New Zealand's electricity supply and when existing reserves ran out in 10 years it would be forced to import emissions-heavy alternatives such as coal.

 

 "This decision is devoid of any rationale. It certainly has nothing to do with climate change," he said.

 

 "These changes will simply shift production elsewhere in the world, not reduce emissions."

 

 New Plymouth mayor Neil Holdom said the decision was "a kick in the guts" for the Taranaki region.

 

 "Nobody's going to be losing their jobs overnight but in terms of the long-term outlook for those industries... people are going 'my career doesn't actually have a future'," he told Radio New Zealand.

 

 Industry group Petroleum Exploration and Production NZ (PEPANZ) said it had been blindsided by the announcement and had not been consulted by the government.

 

 Chief executive Cameron Madgwick said a well-managed trading scheme was the way to reduce New Zealand's emissions, not "arbitrarily banning" certain fuel types.

 

 "We now join the elite club of Belize, Costa Rica and France that have banned exploration. I don't think that's really the way the world's going," he told TV3.

 

 Ardern said industry had been given plenty of time to adjust to changes in the sector that were a long-term necessity.

 

 "Transitions have to start somewhere and unless we make decisions today that will essentially take place in thirty years time, we risk abrupt shocks," she said. (AFP)



 

(FJR)</s>A history book by New Zealander Winston Cowie called, Conquistador Puzzle Trail, which suggests that the Spanish or Portuguese may have discovered New Zealand before the Dutchman Abel Tasman is causing a new stir. Spanish newspaper El País reports.

Cowie’s book takes aim at the official story that Tasman was the first to arrive to the country in 1642 – claiming instead that Spanish or Portuguese sailors could have arrived up to a century earlier.

Around 430 copies of the book, published in English in 2015 and translated into Spanish last year, have been distributed for free in high schools and universities in New Zealand. The volume is presented like a jigsaw puzzle, allowing the reader to piece together the story of the country’s discovery through mysterious elements ranging from old European artifacts found in New Zealand to an ancient specimen of a native Tasmanian tree that grows in northern Spain.

Cowie himself travelled to the Galician city of A Coruña in 2009 and 2012 to research the alleged expeditions that set sail for the Pacific in search of spices in the 1500s.

Some New Zealand intellectuals have dismissed the book, while others have described it as “fascinating.” Renowned New Zealand historians however have warned that the nation should not allow itself to be brainwashed by this theory.

“I want all students to read this and, after becoming teachers themselves, change the perception of the European discovery of New Zealand,” said Cowie on a visit to Galicia. “What’s needed is a major public debate and more research,” he added.

Cowie and the Spanish Embassy in Spain successfully rallied to update New Zealand’s official encyclopedia. The Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand now lists Cowie’s book in its bibliography and has a section on a possible earlier discovery of New Zealand by Iberian sailors. It reads: “Spanish or Portuguese ships … may have reached, or become wrecked on the New Zealand coast. But there is no firm evidence of Europeans reaching New Zealand before Abel Tasman in 1642.”

Cowie was born in Dargaville in 1982. He is based in the United Arab Emirates.</s>New Zealand cricket great Martin Crowe died today, after a battle with terminal double hit Lymphoma.

A statement from his family said he died in Auckland on Thursday surrounded by family.

"It is with heavy hearts that the family of Martin Crowe, MBE advise his death," the statement said.

Crowe was diagnosed with the disease in September 2014.

Doctors identified his condition as double-hit lymphoma, a rare and aggressive blood disease.

Crowe said his diagnosis had helped him realise what was important in life.

"The main thing is the love I have for the people around me, and I only really focus on compassion and forgiveness because that's the only way and I didn't used to do that at all.

"I took too long to grow up, and now I've got that perspective on what my life should be about I've probably never been happier."

He represented the Cornwall Cricket Club and made his New Zealand Test debut against Australia in 1982.

Crowe was 19 when he made his international debut against Australia in Wellington in February 1982.

He retired 13 years later after playing 77 Tests, having scored 5444 runs at an average of 45.36.

This included 17 centuries, the most by a New Zealand cricketer, while his 299 against Sri Lanka in Wellington in January 1991 stood as a national record until recently-retired New Zealand skipper Brendon McCullum scored 302 against India in Wellington in 2014.

Crowe also played 143 ODIs, scoring 4704 runs at an average of 38.55 with four centuries and 34 half-centuries.

He played in three World Cups and led New Zealand to the semi-final of the 1992 tournament, where his side lost to eventual champions Pakistan in Auckland.

He captained New Zealand in 16 Tests and 44 ODIs.

Crowe's influence in New Zealand cricket continued in recent years as mentor to Martin Guptill and Ross Taylor.

Crowe averaged 45 from 77 Tests and helped cement New Zealand's position in the global rankings for cricket.

In 1991, he fell one run short of being New Zealand's first triple-century maker against Sri Lanka.

Crowe was the third New Zealander inducted into cricket's Hall of Fame.

He is survived by his wife Lorraine Downes.

Cricket fans from New Zealand and across the road have taken to social media to post tributes to the late cricketer.</s>New Zealand is halting all new offshore oil and gas exploration to become a global leader in the fight against climate change, the centre-left government said Thursday, but opponents accused it of “economic vandalism”.

“(We are) taking an important step to address climate change and create a clean, green and sustainable future for New Zealand,” Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said.

The oil and gas industry in New Zealand generates about NZ$2.5 billion a year ($1.8 billion), including NZ$1.5 billion in exports, and employs about 11,000 people.

Ardern said existing drilling and exploration permits would not be affected, meaning no existing jobs would be lost.

She said there would also be limited new on-shore permits around the North Island’s Taranaki region, where most of New Zealand industry is concentrated.

“We’re striking the right balance for New Zealand — we’re protecting existing industry and protecting future generations from climate change,” she said.

The move by New Zealand comes two weeks after the Netherlands announced plans to rapidly cut production at — and eventually close — Europe’s biggest gas field as it too seeks to its slash fossil fuel use.

Ardern campaigned heavily on environmental issues when she won a general election last year and is in a three-way coalition government that includes the Greens.

She said she saw the impact of climate change first-hand last month when she visited the cyclone-ravaged Pacific island nations of Samoa and Tonga.

This, she said, underscored the fact that climate change was real and New Zealand needed to be at the forefront of efforts to address it.

“We’ve been a world leader on critical issues… by being nuclear free, the first to support women to vote,” she said.

“Now we could be a world leader in becoming carbon neutral. We owe this to future generations.”

The government said there were currently 31 oil and gas exploration permits, with 22 of them offshore.

Environmental groups welcomed the move, with Greenpeace declaring “the tide has turned irreversibly against Big Oil in New Zealand”.

“This is a huge step forward for New Zealand and a landmark moment in the transition to a clean-energy economy,” WWF New Zealand chief Livia Esterhazy said.

But the conservative opposition National Party accused Ardern of “economic vandalism” that could put thousands of jobs at risk.

Opposition energy spokesman Jonathan Young said gas helped ensure New Zealand’s electricity supply and when existing reserves ran out in 10 years it would be forced to import emissions-heavy alternatives such as coal.

“This decision is devoid of any rationale. It certainly has nothing to do with climate change,” he said.

“These changes will simply shift production elsewhere in the world, not reduce emissions.”

New Plymouth mayor Neil Holdom said the decision was “a kick in the guts” for the Taranaki region.

“Nobody’s going to be losing their jobs overnight but in terms of the long-term outlook for those industries… people are going ‘my career doesn’t actually have a future’,” he told Radio New Zealand.

Industry group Petroleum Exploration and Production NZ (PEPANZ) said it had been blindsided by the announcement and had not been consulted by the government.

Chief executive Cameron Madgwick said a well-managed trading scheme was the way to reduce New Zealand’s emissions, not “arbitrarily banning” certain fuel types.

“We now join the elite club of Belize, Costa Rica and France that have banned exploration. I don’t think that’s really the way the world’s going,” he told TV3.

Ardern said industry had been given plenty of time to adjust to changes in the sector that were a long-term necessity.

“Transitions have to start somewhere and unless we make decisions today that will essentially take place in thirty years time, we risk abrupt shocks,” she said.</s>The Australian government has asked New Zealand to keep its offer to take up to 150 refugees on the table, despite turning down the offer for five years, documents show.

In November last year, the New Zealand prime minister, Jacinda Ardern, reiterated her government’s offer to take up to 150 refugees after a weeks-long standoff at Manus Island detention facility led to a desperate humanitarian situation for the remaining detainees.

New Zealand has made the same offer to the Australian government since 2013, but it has been strongly and repeatedly refused. The Australian home affairs minister, Peter Dutton, described it as a “bad option” and suggested it may encourage people-smuggling boats to intensify their efforts to reach Australia.

“I don’t rule it out, I never have,” Dutton said at the time. “But at this point in time, it is the wrong decision to send people to New Zealand because in the end you’ll start the boats, people will fill up the vacancies we’ve created in Nauru, you’ll get the deaths at sea again. I’m just not going to preside over that arrangement.”

Despite Dutton’s reluctance, government papers obtained by Sky News show Australia asked the New Zealand government to keep its offer on the table, in case plans to re-home Manus Island detainees in the US fell through.

A memo from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Mfat) to Ardern also reveals the New Zealand offer was not without caveat, and New Zealand preferred to accept refugees in family units from Nauru, rather than the single men who were housed on Manus Island.

The documents from Mfat also raised concerns about whether the detainees would pass New Zealand’s strict screening laws, which include character and security tests.

Arif Saeid from the Refugee Council for New Zealand said the needs of the detainees held on Manus Island were “more desperate” than those on Nauru and the New Zealand government shouldn’t “cherry-pick” which refugees it offered help to.

“Single men are not more dangerous than other asylum seekers; often they do not have the resources to escape with their whole family so they come alone. It is discriminatory to not accept single men or single women.”

In 2001 Helen Clark’s Labour government offered asylum to 130 refugees who were rescued from the Tampa after it sunk off the Australian coast.

Twenty of the 130 asylum seekers were young boys and adolescents, and became known as the “Tampa boys”.

The United Nations refugee agency has repeatedly urged Australia to accept New Zealand’s offer, as recently as November last year.

“We urge Australia to reconsider this and take up the offer,” said Nai Jit Lam, deputy regional representative at the UNHCR.

New Zealand currently accepts 750 refugees every year, with the new Labour coalition government pledging to double that number in the next three years.

The New Zealand Red Cross, which helps process and integrate asylum seekers, said it was ready and prepared to accept the Manus Island refugees.</s>New Zealand teams have dominated Super Rugby since its inception‚ but never as much as they have in the past three years.

This weekend they look to extend their winning-streak over Australian teams to 34 games.

The Waratahs were the last team to top a side from New Zealand when they beat the Chiefs 45-25 in Sydney on May 27‚ 2016.

The last time an Australian side was able to win an away match in New Zealand was on April 18 2015 when the Waratahs beat the Hurricanes 29-24.

Since then the Aussie sides have lost 29 consecutive matches on the road.

It’s been two and a half seasons since Australia’s last Trans-Tasman win‚ which is alarming considering the Wallabies were World Cup finalists in 2015 and the gap to New Zealand appeared to be closing.

It’s not a problem unique to Australian teams either. The Sharks’ bizarre 63-40 win over the Blues in Auckland two weeks ago was the first by a South African team in in New Zealand for 14 games going back to April 2016.

In 2017 SA teams won only three of 18 matches against New Zealand sides. In 2018 they have managed three wins in 10 matches so far.

The Waratahs won Super Rugby in 2014 and it looked for a moment‚ that is was possible for New Zealand’s supreme dominance to be challenged.

But Australia’s expansion to five teams in 2012 diluted their playing strength and the Waratahs win proved to be an anomaly.

A return to four teams this year‚ does appear to have improved Australia’s standard with a playing pool spread more thickly across four regions.

How far they have progressed though‚ can only be measured by results against the Kiwis.

This weekend the Brumbies face the Highlanders in the second clash between Aussie and New Zealand sides this season. Last week the Brumbies went down 28-10 to the Chiefs in Waikato.

It’s difficult to see where an Australia win over a New Zealand team‚ particularly away‚ is likely to come‚ although the Melbourne Rebels and Waratahs do look to have improved significantly since last season.

Rebels head coach Dave Wessels‚ the South African who cut his teeth in the professional environment under Rassie Erasmus at the Stormers and then Jake White at the Brumbies‚ is developing a good side in Melbourne.

But he understands the challenge that New Zealand sides pose and he is not going to make the obstacle appear bigger than it is.

“We just have to keep doing what we’re doing‚ which is trying to be positive and have a go‚” Wessels told SowetanLIVE.

“You can tie yourself in knots overthinking it (ways to beat NZ teams).”

The Sharks turned their season around dramatically with that win over the Blues and were desperately unlucky not to beat the Hurricanes last week.

They succumbed to an injury time try to lose 38-37 in Napier.

It again underlined just how difficult winning in New Zealand is‚ and how almost everything has to go right.

The Stormers were the better team for 60 minutes against both the Crusaders and Highlanders on their recent tour.

But in both those matches a 20-minute spell of complete dominance by the home teams was enough to win it.</s>Wellington, New Zealand, April 11, 2018 (AFP) - - New Zealand is halting all new offshore oil and gas exploration as part of its efforts to deal with climate change, the centre-left government said Thursday.

"(We are) taking an important step to address climate change and create a clean, green and sustainable future for New Zealand," Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said.

The oil and gas industry in New Zealand generates about NZ$2.5 billion a year ($1.8 billion), including NZ$1.5 billion in exports, and employs about 11,000 people.

Ardern said existing drilling and exploration permits would not be affected, meaning no existing jobs would be lost.

She said there would also be limited new on-shore permits around the North Island's Taranaki region, where most of New Zealand industry is concentrated.

"We're striking the right balance for New Zealand -- we're protecting existing industry and protecting future generations from climate change," she said.

Environmental groups welcomed the move, with Greenpeace declaring "the tide has turned irreversibly against Big Oil in New Zealand".

"This is a huge step forward for New Zealand and a landmark moment in the transition to a clean-energy economy," WWF New Zealand chief Livia Esterhazy said.

But the conservative opposition National Party accused Ardern of "economic vandalism" that could put thousands of jobs at risk.

Opposition energy spokesman Jonathan Young said gas helped ensure New Zealand's electricity supply and when existing reserves ran out in 10 years it would be forced to import emissions-heavy alternatives such as coal.

"This decision is devoid of any rationale. It certainly has nothing to do with climate change," he said.

"These changes will simply shift production elsewhere in the world, not reduce emissions."

Industry group Petroleum Exploration and Production NZ (PEPANZ) said it had been blindsided by the announcement and had not been consulted by the government.

Chief executive Cameron Madgwick said a well-managed trading scheme was the way to reduce New Zealand's emissions, not "arbitrarily banning" certain fuel types.

"We now join the elite club of Belize, Costa Rica and France that have banned exploration. I don't think that's really the way the world's going," he told TV3.

The government said there were currently 31 oil and gas exploration permits, with 22 of them offshore.</s>The Malawi Queens thrashed New Zealand when they produced a famous win 57-53 in their Pool B match at the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast on Sunday eith goal-shooter Mwai Kumwenda the star with 41 goals.

New Zealand appeared to be cruising at halftime, leading 32-25, but imploded in the third quarter, where they were outscored 17-9.

But Malawi Queens came back fighting to record their first victory of the competition.

The Queens danced in celebration at the full-time whistle as they have never previously beaten New Zealand in nine previous appearances and ran out comfortable 75-42 victors in Auckland on March 21 in the Taini Jamison Trophy series.

Malawi had only just stepped off the plane on that occasion and were a completely different proposition this time around.

“We have beaten the untouchables. We can walk tall now. Everybody will be shocked back home. They never expected us to win.

“God gave me the strength and the wisdom to beat New Zealand. So I’m thankful to God, thankful to the players and to all the crowd for their support,”excited Mulilima.

Malawi Centre Takondwa Lwazi said the side refused to get down in the dumps after losing to Uganda on Saturday.

“It was very tough for us, but we discussed it and said we would never give up. Beating New Zealand is the best. We are very proud of ourselves today. This is like a dream. Everyone at home will be proud of us,” said Lwazi.

Pool leaders England maintained their unbeaten record with an entertaining 55-49 win over Uganda.

 The Queens’ next game is against Wales on Wednesday before wrapping up their Pool B games against Scotland the following day</s>(Reuters) - New Zealand's two main parties are neck and neck in opinion polls after the appointment of a charismatic leader boosted the opposition Labour Party, threatening the governing National Party's decade-long hold on power. The election is on Sept 23.

Below are the main parties' positions on key issues: ECONOMYNew Zealand's once booming economy is facing some capacity constraints. Unemployment is at an eight-year low and a labor shortage, most noticeably in construction, threatens to curb growth.

 Both main parties plan to be fiscally prudent and maintain a budget surplus, but would differ on monetary policy.

 National plans to cut net debt to 10-15 percent of GDP by 2025, while Labour and the Green Party both plan to cut it to 20 percent of GDP within five years of taking office.

 Labour proposes adding full employment to the existing inflation mandate of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand, which economists say could lead to easier monetary policy and fuel longer-term inflation. To form a government, National may be more dependent on New Zealand First, which favors greater currency intervention - something New Zealand has been reluctant to do in the past.

 National is planning to adjust tax thresholds, or effectively deliver tax cuts, from April 2018 to boost family income. Labour wants to do away with National's planned tax cuts and boost tax credits and subsidies.

 

 HOUSING

 New Zealand's house prices have risen more than 50 percent in the past decade as the construction industry failed to keep up with demand from a growing population, fueled by record migration and an increasing number of New Zealanders staying home.

 Labour criticizes National for leaving the housing crisis unresolved after nine years in government. It wants to ban overseas buyers from purchasing existing homes and build 100,000 affordable homes over 10 years. It also plans to create a housing authority to speed up residential development.

 National questions Labour's ability to build so many houses while curbing immigration. It plans to make NZ$1 billion available to speed up the development of 60,000 houses.

 New Zealand First wants to ban foreign non-residents from owning a home in New Zealand, except in particular cases, and to provide government assistance for first-home buyers.

 The Green Party wants to provide 10,000 new houses over 10 years for low-income groups through a rent-to-buy scheme.

 

 IMMIGRATION

 The National Party tightened eligibility criteria this year for immigration and believes current levels of immigration are about right to meet the economy's needs.

 Labour plans to reduce net immigration by up to 30,000 from record levels of over 70,000 annually and to charge every visitor a NZ$25 fee, which would be ring-fenced for a NZ$75 million infrastructure fund.

 The Greens want to review immigration policy to make sure migrants match the skills employers need, in line with Labour's policy. New Zealand First wants to curb immigration by ensuring New Zealand workers have the first chance at jobs and by capping the number of older migrants.

 

 TRADE

 National wants to expand New Zealand's international trade. Among other plans, it wants to complete the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal, launch a free trade deal with the European Union and Britain post-Brexit and upgrade its free trade agreement with China.

 Labour wants to reconsider New Zealand's role in the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade pact if provisions on foreign investment are not changed to allow the New Zealand government to restrict investment into the country. New Zealand First wants to renegotiate the TPP.

 

 (Reporting by Ana Nicolaci da Costa and Charlotte Greenfield in Wellington; Editing by Neil Fullick)
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern bans future offshore oil and gas exploration in New Zealand, leaving existing permits untouched.