Early Edition with Kate Hawkesby

New Zealand First’s mining policy hits all the right notes but ultimately is not worth the paper it’s written on. I’ll tell you why. On the whole, Kiwis don’t mind a bit of mining, so long as there are good jobs to be had in the right place — preferably not the middle of Milford Sound. Last year, the Government took in more than $250 million in royalties. But there was a poll we spoke about on this show just a few weeks ago: half of voters don’t think we get a good enough deal — a fair enough return — from mining companies. To pacify this problem, New Zealand First wants to give half the royalties back to the regions where the resources come from. It might get them blue-collar votes on the Coast, but it won’t fix the big problem we have, which is investment confidence. If you’re an international player with options and a world in front of you, the disruption, civil disobedience, and political uncertainty on display here don’t go unnoticed. It’s all very well having these pro-mining policies and fast-tracks, b