The ban has not reduced New Zealand’s carbon emissions. We are now importing enormous quantities of coal, and the Huntly generation plant is running as fast as it can because there isn’t enough gas to run it with lower emissions. The imported coal is being transported to Huntly through Auckland’s congested roads by thousands of diesel powered trucks.

Hundreds of workers in regional communities will lose their jobs when wood processing plants close. Methanol producer Methanex announced this week it is idling its plant so its gas can be used to generate electricity and warm schools and hospitals.

Most people underestimate the amount of energy we need. Until recently, the gas Methanex used had the same amount of energy as the entire hydroelectric power system. You can’t generate this much energy from rooftop solar panels.

Instead of being clear about the difficult choices, we are coping by deindustrialising.

The “Just Transition” has been neither just nor a transition.

Read Josie's column in The Post.