A rabbit warren is exactly where you were heading - importing...

A rabbit warren is exactly where you were heading - importing coal is akin to importing oil - it's simply what is required - at least for now.

govts are at times clever and ignorant, but they're generally always pragmatic. they deal with with what's in front of them and they deal in ways that they calculate will earn them the most support - or least criticism.

there's no win in supporting mining in nz. the win is in highlighting the need to shift from coal fullstop - and in supporting industry to shift.

GNE will chase the lowest cost always. If BRL can't compete - or can't supply so be it - that's business.

the bottom line is this - if the SP were currently 25cents no shareholder would give a toss about the 120kt of coal imported and no one would quibble about the environmental trade offs. it's a red herring.

there are bigger issues!