Resources Minister Shane Jones tells activists they’re ‘hysterical’

Monday, 30 September 2024

Resources Minister Shane Jones confronted climate protesters in Wellington, sparking a fiery exchange over the Government's reversal of the oil and gas ban. Protesters called Jones a 'climate denier,' while he accused them of being 'extreme.'

Resources Minister Shane Jones faced climate activists as they marched down Lambton Quay, protesting the Government’s proposal to return to new oil and gas exploration today.

He was met with protesters calling him “absolutely shameful”, and a “climate terrorist.”

Among the protesters were members of Oil Free Wellington and Coal Action Network Aotearoa, in a protest of around 30 that gathered at Parliament.

After a few minutes of speeches the group, unaware Jones intended to come out and meet them, left.

The group then marched to Todd Energy on Customhouse Quay, one of New Zealand’s largest energy companies, “to remind their owners that they are not welcome here,” said Oil Free Wellington spokesperson Michelle Ducat.

In an unusual series of events, a determined Jones eventually caught up with the protesters on Lambton Quay - by which time the group was blocking traffic.

Last week, the Government introduced legislation to reverse the 2018 ban on new exploration permits outside of onshore Taranaki.

Protesters shared their frustration that the public had only been allowed four days to make submissions on the proposed amendments to the Crown Minerals Act.

Resources minister Shane Jones confronts anti oil protesters on Lambton Quay.

Public submissions will close at 11:59pm tomorrow.

Well-known activist Valerie Morse could be heard telling Jones “you are going to rip this country’s heart out, and sell it off to fossil fuel companies.”

Jones told the protesters “you’re being extreme”, “you’re losing sight of facts”, “you’re being hysterical”, and “you’re being hyperbolic, but you’re entitled to”.

He said the public had enough time for submissions, telling them it was more time than the previous Government had given them on the initial repeal, “Jacinda (Ardern) gave no time,” he said.

One passer-by told him “you’re a f…… sell out”, to which he responded “bye-bye.”

Said Jones, “It's politics, it’s a contest of ideas and I’m a professional politician, I don’t take these things personally, you shouldn’t be in politics if you do that.”