Jones supports drilling and mining for Tainui

Stuff reports:

Labour economic development and Maori affairs spokesman Shane Jones, has applauded moves by Waikato-Tainui to explore the benefits of mining for oil and minerals.

The tribe is holding an “information sharing” hui today at Hopuhopu, and has invited members of the petroleum industry, government ministries, Waikato Regional Council and the Maori Land Court to teach them more about the sector.

Mr Jones reckoned the tribe’s investigations could prove a canny development.

“There is not an iwi in the country that does not want to see industry and jobs but we can’t be too picky or finicky as to where we find these jobs,” he said.

The issue of mining and oil exploration was shrouded with “emotionalism” but he said the decision for Maori should be made on sound science and fact.

“More often than not the factual information is hard to uncover because it is under layers of polemic.”

He said New Zealand’s environmental management framework was robust and would answer any environmental questions, and he called for the energy sector to work more closely with Maori.

It’s good to see Shane Jones say this, and he believes it.

But I don’t think we should assume Jones speaks for Labour on this issue. Their environmental and energy spokespersons go around condemning mining and drilling whenever they can.  It’s the old trick of different messages for different people.