Recently a new organisation, New Zealand Energy Voices appeared. It was apparently spontaneously formed by disaffected kiwis railing up against the tyranny of eventually, eventually stopping off shore drilling for oil and gas, just after all the existing oil and gas wells have expired.
The entity’s goals were superficially laudible sounding:
Energy Voices will give affected workers and families a chance to have their say. So far, they haven’t been heard. They face an uncertain future and they deserve a voice.
The process has been rushed and the evidence ignored. This campaign will provide balance.
Energy Voices will explain the serious damage this policy could have on New Zealand’s economy.
Thousands of jobs could be lost. The New Zealand government will miss out on many billions of dollars in royalties and taxes. That money could help us build a better future for Kiwi families.
At the same time, ending offshore exploration will do nothing to reduce global emissions or help the environment. We won’t use any less oil or natural gas; it just means we will have to import it more expensively from overseas.
And it was up front about the entity behind the website:
PEPANZ – the Petroleum Exploration & Production Association of New Zealand – has started the Energy Voices campaign to give those directly impacted the chance to be heard, to raise awareness of the negative impacts, and to build public support for restoring offshore exploration for oil and natural gas.
But, and imagine my shock when I discovered this, there are National Party links to the people behind the entity.
Ben Guerin is the contact person for the URL and, at least recently, a senior social media advisor for the National Party.
He has come to the attention of authors on the Standard in the past with lprent describing him as a pathetic young nat dickhead.
He has also been fingered for doctoring the Jacinda Ardern video that was then offered as proof that she had said there would be no strikes under Labour when she said no such thing.
Of course he is free to ply his trade. And if they wanted to hide his identity it would have been so easy to do this.
But the media should be careful about any organisations seeking media time formed to represent grassroots interests. And Guerin’s claims should always be taken with a grain of salt.
Powered by WPtouch Mobile Suite for WordPress