NZ First's $1 billion energy plan dim on costing

The New Zealand Taxpayers' Union says NZ First’s $1 billion proposal to survey offshore oil and gas reserves leaves one glaring question: where is the money coming from?

Taxpayers' Union spokeswoman, Ella Dickson, said:

“Winston Peters has already committed taxpayers to $1.7 billion for ferries the Government does not need to own, floated buying back the BNZ, and now wants another $1 billion for an offshore energy survey. How does he plan to pay for it all?”

“NZ First must explain what it would cut or sell to fund these expensive promises. It cannot keep piling billion-dollar commitments onto taxpayers without saying where the money will come from.”

“Talk of following the Norwegian model ignores the fact Norway built its sovereign wealth fund from commercial returns. Before announcing another billion-dollar promise, NZ First needs to show taxpayers the money.”