The Government should not sign off its proposed LNG import terminal before New Zealanders have their say at the election.

“Experts have told the Government what Labour has said all along: LNG is not the answer for New Zealand and it will not deliver the benefits National has claimed,” Labour energy spokesperson Megan Woods said.

“They desperately tried to hide the advice because it didn’t suit their narrative, and now the Ombudsman has confirmed that advice was wrongly hidden from the public.

“This is a multi-billion-dollar decision with long-term consequences for New Zealand's energy system. The Government has no business rushing it through in the final months before an election when it has been proven to be a flawed idea.

“National asked New Zealanders to trust them while hiding the evidence. Now we know why. Their own officials warned the case for LNG was far weaker than ministers were letting on.

“The contract should be put on ice, while all of the advice is released in full and voters should decide the future of New Zealand's energy policy in November,” Megan Woods said.