A major offshore renewable energy company has cancelled plans to build wind turbines off the coast of Taranaki and Waikato.
The decision has been blamed due in part to a fast-tracked seabed mining decision made by the Government.
Spanish company Bluefloat Energy had multi-billion dollar plans to harness wind out at sea off the Taranaki coast to help power New Zealand homes and businesses.
In a promotion video, the company said “this collaboration will combine Kiwi innovation and global experience”.
But now the global entity has called it quits — blaming, in part, the Government’s fast-track bill.
Te Pāti Māori co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer said the situation was disappointing for her community.
“This company has said what every other company like it has said; they cannot work side by side with seabed mining out in the ocean,” Ngarewa-Packer said.
Labour spokesperson for Energy and Climate Change Megan Woods agreed.