May 17, 2023
Seabed mining bill debate embarrassing
Māori Party co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer says South Taranaki whanaunga who came to support the first reading of her member’s bill to end seabed mining was shocked by the childish behaviour of MPs.
The bill was voted down last week, with only the Maori Party, the Greens and Meka Whaitiri supporting it.
She says the argument by Government ministers that it would result in the cancellation of all existing oil and gas permits didn’t go down well in the gallery.
“Our oldest to our youngest saw some of the worst performances in the debate. Our kohanga babies, they know seabed mining’s not about fossil fuel. You’re talking to an intergenerational group of kaitiaki. It’s one of those perfect examples where grassroots know more than the lawmakers,” Ms Ngarewa-Packer says.