Wind farm plan scrapped, ‘key uncertainties’ include allocation of seabed

Key points:

A major offshore renewable energy company has cancelled plans to build wind turbines off the coast of Taranaki and Waikato.

The decision has been blamed due in part to a fast-tracked seabed mining decision made by the Government.

Spanish company Bluefloat Energy had multi-billion dollar plans to harness wind out at sea off the Taranaki coast to help power New Zealand homes and businesses.

In a promotion video, the company said “this collaboration will combine Kiwi innovation and global experience”.

But now the global entity has called it quits — blaming, in part, the Government’s fast-track bill.

Te Pāti Māori co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer said the situation was disappointing for her community.

“This company has said what every other company like it has said; they cannot work side by side with seabed mining out in the ocean,” Ngarewa-Packer said.

Labour spokesperson for Energy and Climate Change Megan Woods agreed.

“What we’re seeing is evidence today that this is a Government that has no plan, it is literally driving away international investment,” Woods said.

The Government’s recent list of fast-track projects green lighted the controversial seabed mining off the Taranaki coast by Trans-Tasman Resources, to be considered by the Environmental Protection Authority.

Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop said both seabed mining and wind turbine farms were a priority for the Government.

Govt Minister: ‘We’re into offshore wind… we can do both’

“We’re into offshore wind, we’re into iron sands mining, we can do both and we want to see both advanced in New Zealand,” Bishop said.

In a statement explaining its decision to withdraw, Bluefloat cited “key uncertainties” in the New Zealand market, including the “allocation of seabed”.

During questions in the House at Parliament, Woods questioned Bishop, as Leader of the House, on the matter.

“Does he take responsibility for creating the quote ‘key uncertainties’ end quote, including both route to market and allocation of seabed that Bluefloat have pointed out as a reason for pulling their investment from New Zealand today?”

Bishop responded: “Well, on behalf of the [Energy] Minister, no. What I do take responsibility for is advancing at pace the development of a regulatory regime for wind. We inherited from the last government no regime, no cabinet decisions,” he said.

The questions in the House sparked interjections from Ngarewa-Packer to which Parliament’s Speaker warned he would throw her out of the debating chamber had she not kept with the expectation of standards.

“There is no talking while a question’s being asked,” Gerry Brownlee said.

“Does the member want to leave the House, because that’s what will happen if there is continued commentary like that while a question is being asked.”

Te Pāti Māori co-leader’s f-bomb-laden view

Ngarewa-Packer earlier this month posted a video on the fast-track decisions in which she swore profusely.

“There are some projects in it that have really f***** me off,” one snippet said.

“I’m really f***** off.

“Gutted, obviously really f***** off with the decision.”

When asked by 1News whether the use of expletives was appropriate, the Te Pāti Māori Co-leader replied: “I think we can f-bomb our way through all of this, if it’s about the future of our oceans and future of our mokopuna. In fact, come down to my marae, you’ll hear aunties doing more than f-bombs,” she said.

Another video had the MP say the following;

“I can’t tell you how f***** pissed I am.”

Bishop said the language used was a matter for Te Pāti Māori, but offered, “I think we all need to show a bit more decorum around this place then perhaps we have been in the last little while,” Bishop said.

Ngarewa-Packer remained steadfast.

“As raw and as hard as it is to their little dainty ears, our community do not want seabed mining,” she said.

The Government plans to introduce legislation setting up a regulatory regime for offshore wind later this year.