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Government's repeal on oil and gas ban risked NZ's reputation with trading partners
Legal advice from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade warned the government that its repeal of the ban on offshore oil and gas exploration opened New Zealand up to reputational and legal risks with its trading partners. The Regulatory Impact Statement, sent to Resources Minister Shane Jones by the Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment, contains a series of assessments from MFAT regarding the reversal's potential impacts on New Zealand's Free Trade Agreements with the likes of the UK or the EU. The unredacted document, first obtained by Newsroom, shows sections of legal and commercial privilege that ... (full story)