Under the previous Government, New Zealand passed laws requiring Aotearoa to bring all greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050.
Jenny Campbell, spokesperson for Coal Action Network Aotearoa, slammed the Government’s plan.
“Relaxing rules for new coal mines in the face of increasing climate impacts is unlikely to be something New Zealanders will throw their weight behind,” she said. “People across the country are still recovering from flood disasters: some from more than a year ago and some just last week; farmers are suffering from a crippling drought and crying out for rain.”
But Jones said he was a “pro-industry politician”.
“I’m here to boost our exports, ensuring that coal or gold or any other minerals happens within a legitimate framework and environmental effects are taken care of but, down the West Coast, they told me, ‘Jonesy… we’ll take coal before dole anytime of the day.’
“Obviously, we’re importing coal as we speak from Indonesia to keep the lights on in New Zealand and it’s not an ideal outcome… We have clean coal in New Zealand; we can manage and mine it in a climate-smart way, and it’s very, very valuable as an export.