The Lignite Mirror Maze

Enter here at your own risk, into the world of Solid Energy, the NZ Cabinet and the Parliament from which it is derived. Lignite is what unites us, except that it divides us.

Once inside you are in a hall of mirrors where, under the tutelage of Lewis Carroll, nothing is as it seems.

Yesterday I thought I was asking questions, not of the Minister of Energy but of the Acting Minister. The real minister is preoccupied, understandably, with seismic duty to the south. Being an inhabitant of that region, I understand.

Dr Kennedy Graham to the Minister of Energy: Lignite, Solid Energy and Climate Change

Dr KENNEDY GRAHAM to the Acting Minister of Energy and Resources: Does she agree with the Prime Minister, who said "companies like Solid Energy are growth companies and we want them to expand in areas like lignite conversion"?

David Cunliffe: a political vision? by Claire Browning

David Cunliffe offers personal observations from the Greens’ economic conference, on how to do good — “to do good, first we must win” — and possibly, also on how to win

The convenor fires off two cheap shots, one not quite appreciated by his audience (a snipe about burning coal at Huntly, to air-condition the chilly late-afternoon room) and the other hugely enjoyed, including by butt of the joke Nick Smith. “I’m probably the least green person in the room,” he says, “or maybe,” (glancing at Dr Smith sitting beside him) “the second least green person …”.

He starts as he means to go on, in other words: detached, and even-handed about the politics of sustainability.

Questioning Nick Smith on climate change

Last week I attended a seminar on climate change and the prospects for the Cancun summit in December.  I know that in our post-Copenhagen catatonia we all prefer not to think of climate change, but that will not solve the problem.

The seminar was comprised mainly of government officials, academics and think tank experts.  There was a high-level of knowledge and acuity around the table on the subject.  The Minister (Groser) came and spoke, then left.  There was a general air of malaise in the air, a feeling of fin de siècle, of disempowerment. We were busy with the deck chairs – sorting where they should be arranged – maintaining the system since we only have the system.