SaltyNZ:

Shane Jones says he didn’t declare a dinner at which he suggested a coal mining company approach a Cabinet colleague to enter the Government’s fast-track consenting regime because it was a “last-minute” event.

Barry Bragg, the Stevenson Group deputy chair, wrote to RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop in February. Stevenson is behind an opencast coal mine project, which has suffered numerous losses in the courts, planned for the South Island’s West Coast.

Bragg’s letter to Bishop on February 19 opened with: “I had dinner with Resources and Regional Development Minister Shane Jones last Friday and he suggested I write to you to ask that the Te Kuha coal project be considered for listing in the fast-track and one-stop shop bill.”

 

Clare Curran's ministerial career was ended over undiarised meetings.