Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
James Shaw says Kiwibank, not ministers should decide on investors
Climate Change Minister James Shaw says Kiwibank's decision to stop doing business with companies dealing in fossil fuels is the right one.
Yesterday, State-Owned Enterprises Associate Minister Shane Jones said it was not the role of Kiwibank to make moral judgements about who it did business with.
Shaw told Morning Report ministers should not be telling businesses how they should be run.
He said the government wanted to phase-out the use of fossil fuels gradually.
"You're talking 10 years, if not 20."
He said even though Crown-owned, it was up to Kiwibank to choose who it does business with.
"It's a matter for the board and for management to decide."
Shaw said the performance of the oil and gas sector - monitored by "some consulting group" - found it was the worst out of the 33 sectors.
"It's not a great sector in terms of its investment returns."
He wouldn't say if the bank should also pull out working with companies that used fossil fuels to operate, like Fonterra.
Kiwibank's list of businesses that do harm to people or the environment include companies dealing with fossil fuel extraction, tobacco, palm oil, casinos, predatory lending, synthetic drugs and weapons.
"I don't know how many businesses that affects," Shaw said.
Click a link to play audio (or right-click to
download) in
MP3 format.
Jones yesterday said: "My warning to the chairman of Kiwibank is that the bank that goes woke may end up broke.
"Their role is to moderate the market and to stand as a force for Kiwis, not to make moral judgements ... about what is an appropriate industry that can legally survive in New Zealand."
He said he would be seeking answers from the board chair of NZ Post, which has a controlling stake in the bank.
RNZ
New Zealand's public broadcaster, providing comprehensive NZ news and current affairs, specialist audio features and documentaries.
Radio New Zealand is a Crown entity established under the Radio New Zealand Act 1995. Radio New Zealand News are vital elements in our programming, providing impartial news and information to New Zealanders every day. Radio New Zealand (RNZ) provides listeners with exciting and independent radio programmes in accordance with the Radio New Zealand Charter.
Peter Dunne: Luxon Gets Out His Butcher's Knife - Briefly
Binoy Kampmark: Warring Against Encryption, Australia Is Coming For Your Communications
Gordon Campbell: On Fast Track Powers, Media Woes And The Tiktok Ban
Binoy Kampmark: Censorship Wars, Elon Musk, Safety Commissioners And Violent Content
Gordon Campbell: On The Public Sector Carnage, And Misogyny As Terrorism
Ramzy Baroud: NATO’s Never-ending War: The 75-Year-Old Bully Is Faltering