IPENZ report adds rigour to debate on resources – Straterra

12 December 2011

Press release for immediate use

IPENZ report adds rigour to debate on resources – Straterra

The Institute of Professional Engineers has produced a report that promotes mature and well-informed debate on minerals and energy in New Zealand, Straterra says.

The IPENZ report, “Realising our hidden treasure: responsible mineral and petroleum extraction”, released on Friday, concludes that with improved and streamlined regulation, the contribution of the sector to New Zealand’s GDP could increase significantly over the next 10 years.

View the report here: http://www.ipenz.org.nz/ipenz/media_comm/documents/IPENZMineralsandPetroleumFinalDec2011.pdf

Chris Baker, CEO, Straterra said today the report highlights the economic potential of the resource sector, the very high standard of environmental regulation in New Zealand, noting room for improvement on that, and in the regulatory environment generally. It also draws attention to a skills shortage in New Zealand in the sector.

“The report is an important and valuable contribution to the debate on the role of resource and their development in New Zealand. Such debates in New Zealand are often skewed by ideology and misinformation and this report helps redress that.”

“New Zealand has significant resource potential, but we need to attract the investment to explore and develop that potential.”

“The Government is doing a lot of work across the spectrum of issues that will lead to more investment including environment, economic return to New Zealand, regulations, funding and resource allocation and health and safety. In this, Straterra is engaging actively with government and advocating changes to make New Zealand a more attractive place for resource investment.”

“Properly managed and encouraged, the resource sector can contribute to the economy in a socially and environmentally responsible way. I commend this report to anyone with a serious interest in New Zealand’s economic and social future.”

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