Time for cross-party talks on peak oil

President Obama's statement today that the world is running out of places to drill oil, confirms the need for political parties in Aotearoa to start cross party talks on the global peak oil crisis, Maori Party energy and climate change spokesperson Rahui Katene says.

"The time has come for all political parties to come together and take action on what we are going to do about the global oil crisis and how it will affect this nation," Mrs Katene said.

"If we don't, it will only be a matter of time before we see more and more multi-national oil moguls mining our great frontier of Te Moananui A Kiwa, the domain of Tangaroa, and an increase in the risk of catastrophic oil spills in our part of the world."

Mrs Katene said it was good to see that renewable energy generation had increased by 17 per cent since 2008, but that this was not reducing the country's demand for non-renewable energy resources including crude oil.

"Our country is demanding more than double the crude oil it produces and it concerns me that the demand is increasing, despite the global campaign to address climate change."

The Maori Party first called for action on this issue in 2005 by urging that a cross-party parliamentary commission on peak oil be set up.

Mrs Katene said almost five years on, the urgency to reduce this country’s reliance on finite and greenhouse-producing sources, is even more apparent. She would be writing to all political parties asking for urgent talks.

ENDS

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