06 SEPTEMBER 2013
Coming up this week on The Nation

MINING --- 100% IMPURE?

• Energy and Resources Minister Simon Bridges.

• Petroleum Exploration and Production Association CEO, David Robinson.

• Straterra (Minerals and mining lobby group) CEO Chris Baker.

• Greenpeace executive director Bunny McDiarmid.

• When Jesus was a schoolboy --- what Labour's leadership candidates did at school and university and what sort of impact they have made in politics. A Torben Akel investigation.

• What the bloody hell! Now they're voting here as well. Aussies in NZ. Suze Metherell among her Kath and Kim.

Mining - is it our future?

For every hour worked, the petroleum and mining sector generates $333, a government report showed this week, making the sector the most productive in the New Zealand economy.

By contrast, an average of $48 is generated per hour worked in New Zealand overall.

The report could not come at a better time for the Government, as they push through changes which would reduce the right to oppose exploratory drilling.

Chris Baker, the CEO of Straterra, which represents and provides advocacy for 90% of the mineral and mining sector, welcomes the report. Mr Baker said it signalled a need to make New Zealand more attractive for investment, which would end up boosting jobs.

It's also good news for David Robinson, the CEO of the Petroleum Exploration and Production Association (PEPANZ), the national body representing the oil and gas exploration and production industry.

The economic return may be high, but at what cost? Bunny McDiarmid, the executive director of Greenpeace NZ, is concerned about the impact on the environment

So, should we be pursuing economic wealth, or protecting our environment? Energy and Resources Minister Simon Bridges , David Robinson, Chris Baker and Bunny McDiarmid join us to talk about the impact the sector is having on our economy, and what the future holds for developing the sector further.

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Labour's X-Factor continues

Another week on the campaign trail, and we know Shane Jones likes Women’s Weekly readers, Grant Robertson likes rugby, and David Cunliffe knows how to catch a fish. But one major question still lingers: which of the three contenders has what former leader David Shearer didn’t have?

The candidates must win over the Labour members, charm the affiliated unions, and gather as much support as possible from the 34-strong Labour caucus. This means the winning candidate will need to appeal to both working class New Zealand and their political colleagues.

Our reporter Torben Akel talks to political players from all sides of the spectrum to find out how has what it takes to become Labour leader. He considers which of the three will be able to take on the "$5 million gorilla", as Shane Jones has dubbed John Key, to give Labour a chance at next year's election.

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Aussies head to the ballot box

It's election weekend in Australia - but Aussies living on our shores are casting their votes too.

Saturday's election is expected to result in a win for the opposition Liberal-National opposition party - but it has been a hotly contested race.

Australian reporter Suze Metherell headed to the Australian Consulate-General in Auckland to find out who the Aussies in New Zealand were voting for. She also asks how the Australian election build-up in New Zealand compares to election time on home turf.

ENDS

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