While our community safety may not be threatened, the financial reverberations have quickly reached our shores, with the fuel price at the pump being a daily scorecard of the impact on personal finances. Presciently, New Zealand First has long been a champion for national fuel security. My colleague Shane Jones is the Minister in charge of developing a National Fuel Security Plan, an outcome of our coalition agreement with National. We have a Fast Track RMA process to get a wave of new renewable energy projects consented expeditiously. We will regulate to guarantee a fair price for energy exported to the grid — sensible, bold and impactful interventions.

Source: Otago Daily Times March 25, 2026 16:06 UTC