$1bn offshore oil and gas survey
What it actually does
At its July 2026 campaign launch NZ First proposed a $1 billion "National Subsurface Development Survey" to map offshore oil and gas reserves, framing it as a response to fuel insecurity. Peters claimed high odds of a major commercial discovery and said royalties could eventually exceed 50%.
Source: The Spinoff · 2026-07
The Trump take
“Drill, Winston, drill! A billion dollars to find the oil? Very cheap. I'd find it for free, I have a nose for oil. Liquid gold, they call it.”parody
Why it scored this way
Energy
Government money to find more oil and gas
+2
Loves it
Climate
Prioritises fossil fuel supply over emissions goals
+1
Likes it
On the same topics
Fast-track Approvals Act
Passed in December 2024 along party lines, the Act created a one-stop consenting process for listed infrastructure, housing, mining and energy projects. Final approval decisions sit with expert panels rather than standard resource consent processes.
Fast-track Approvals Act 2024
Creates a one-stop consenting regime for listed infrastructure, housing, energy and mining projects, with expert panels deciding applications and ministers holding a role in referrals. Passed its third reading on 17 December 2024 on coalition votes and received royal assent in December 2024.
Remove the ETS charge from fuel
NZ First would abolish the Emissions Trading Scheme charge on fuel over the next term, which it says added about 12 cents a litre to petrol and 14 cents to diesel over the past year. The party says the ETS took $850 million from consumers and businesses for carbon credits in that period.