Aredwood:

 

Banning oil exploration doesn't and wont reduce direct emissions. As more oil will simply be pumped out of existing overseas oil fields to offset the oil that would have otherwise come from NZ.

 

Agreed.  NZ's fossil fuel use won't reduce as result of reducing exploration in NZ.  When we eventually start producing less oil and gas, we will simply import more.  Same consumption. Increased trade deficit.  No change in global emissions - unless they increase because more difficult fields have to be exploited.

We need better technology to reduce the need for fossil fuels.  Mostly we need better, cheaper batteries and solar panels.