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Protests aren’t going to keep Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones away from talking to the miners and the drillers.
Climate action protesters blocked access to the Minerals Forum conference at the Dunedin Town Hall this morning and stopped many delegates from entering.
Mr Jones, who is due to speak tomorrow, says as a politician known to be pro-industry and pro-job creation he believes there can be a happy medium between environmental interests and the extractive sector.
"I do accept however that there are, such as in Ngāti Ruanui and Taranaki, there are some very firm views this is an industry that should disappear. I respect them to talk for the area they whakapapa to but that's where there influence ends and I don’t share that view," he says.
Mr Jones says the Australian election result shows parties can’t afford to forget the people whose livelihoods depend on the extractive sector.
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