1. Agree that the purpose of the New Zealand Energy Strategy is to provide leadership and strategic direction for the energy sector to respond to the long-term challenges of energy security and climate change.
2. Agree that the rationale for developing a New Zealand Energy Strategy is to create an energy system that is reliable and resilient, environmentally responsible and is priced as fairly and efficiently as possible over the short and long term and establishes renewable sources of energy, energy efficiency and conservation as key priorities
3. Note that the strategy will:
3.1 deliver a strategic view out to 2050;
3.2 set priorities to focus government and market actions;
3.3 promote a favourable investment climate;
3.4 address greenhouse gases in the energy sector;
3.5 enhance the contribution of R&D; and
3.6 galvanise stakeholder cooperation for the transition to a sustainable energy future.
4. Agree that the proposed approach for developing the strategy needs to:
4.1 raise awareness about the issues facing New Zealand's energy future;
4.2 explore future energy scenarios;
4.3 establish consensus on strategic priorities;
4.4 improve the current policy framework and clarify roles and responsibilities of different government agencies; and
4.5 develop new actions and measures to achieve the government's overarching objectives.
5. Agree that the development of the New Zealand Energy Strategy is a whole-of-government process and needs to be integrated with other processes as much as practical due to strong inter-relationships with energy outcomes from other policy areas such as climate change and the National Energy Efficiency and Conservation Strategy.
6. Agree that officials coordinate the processes and development of the New Zealand Energy Strategy with those of the National Energy Efficiency and Conservation Strategy as much as practical.
7. Note that in the development of the New Zealand Energy Strategy, existing policies should not be taken as a constraint on options to be explored.
8. Note that stakeholder engagement and public support will be important to the success of the draft New Zealand Energy Strategy.
9. Invite the Minister of Energy to engage with stakeholders as required in the development of the draft strategy.
10. Note that the specific sustainable energy reports CBC Min (05) 8/9 paras 13-14, 16 and 18 will be addressed as part of the development of the New Zealand Energy Strategy.
11. Agree that the specific sustainable energy reports CBC Min (05) 8/9 paras 13-14, 16 and 18 should be rescinded as they will be amalgamated into the New Zealand Energy Strategy rather than reported separately.
12. Note that the Minister of Energy intends to release a public version of this paper and communicate the purpose, process and scope of the New Zealand Energy Strategy.
13. Agree that the proposed Terms of Reference outlined in this paper including the purpose, rationale, deliverables, approach, process of engagement, and integration with related processes, forms the basis for officials to progress to the next phase of developing a draft New Zealand Energy Strategy.
14. Note the proposed scope (Appendix 1) and timeline (Appendix 2) broadly indicate the range of energy sector issues the New Zealand Energy Strategy will cover and likely timing of key development phases.
15. Invite the Minister of Energy to report to Cabinet with a draft strategy by October 2006.