It is easy for third term governments to be criticised for lacking in new policy ideas. They are in some ways damned if they do (how come you have not already implemented it?) and damned if they don’t (run out of ideas, time for the other lot to have a go). The release of the New Zealand Energy Strategy and the Energy Effiiciency and Conservation Strategy last week was a convincing attempt by Labour (with considerable support from the Greens) to show that it is possible to push forward with innovative thinking eight years into government.

No doubt announcements like this one tend to re-package earlier announced initatives (such as the biofuels obligation, emissions trading scheme, funding for low carbon technology development) but there was also new thinking on show. In particular the practical steps towards meting the target of 90% of electricity from renewables by 2025 including the use of directives and regulatory options for limiting baseload fossil fuel generation. Also the development of fuel economy standards for imported cars is an important and practical step.

 I am also pleased to see further assistance around insulation, particularly for low-income New Zealanders.  The linkages between cold homes and poor health and educational outcomes are clear, and in addition to the overall energy efficiency savings make for a compelling argument for government intervention.  In my personal view this is an area where the government could go even further, particularly in terms of rental accomodation.  There are issues in terms of the capacity to undertake the retrofitting, but the development of partnerships with communities around New Zealand to manage the process would quickly deal to this.  

The Strategy promises, as earlier foreshadowed, assistance for households to adjust to higher electricity prices arising from the emissions trading scheme. Given the understandable reluctance of the government to try to put the pieces of the electricity industry back together again, some intervention in the retail sector is vital to ensuring the well-being of many New Zealanders.  The United Kingdom has had the winter fuel payment in place for several years now.  It is simple, and directly benefits the elderly at the time they need it most.  I believe a modified version of such a scheme, perhaps extending to those on fixed incomes, needs serious consideration in New Zealand.

But, the bottom line here is that the strategy is a clear blueprint for the way forward to a sustainable energy future- with lots of practical targets against which to measure progress.  It is the mark of a government with lots of energy, a superb example of cooperation with a party that is not technically part of the government, and overall a triumph for pragmatism and practicality. 

Finally, A very brief word on the arrests in recent days.  My experience of protest groups is that there are always people on the fringes of them who have weird, and occasionally dangerous views. These are more often than not far removed from the activity of those involved at the core of the groups. If the allegations floating around are  proved then it seems those people had moved into whole new areas involving weapons and activities that most people would find abhorrent.  Now is not the time to rush to judgement on any aspects of this situation- and I have sufficient faith in the court system that justice will be done.