Sir Arnold satisfied with Maui development

Press, 3 October 1979, Page 11

Sir Arnold satisfied with Maui development

PA Wellington Sir Arnold Nordmeyer retired on Sunday from New Zealand’s energy scene very satisfied with having seen the Maui gas field developed during his six years as head of the Government’s involvements in the Maui partnership. As chairman of the Government company, Offshore Mining, he has helped guide Maui from its contractual beginnings in 1973 to gas production in May this year. For his work as the three-times chairman of Maui Development during the period, he has earned admiration and praise from the other partner in the Maui venture — the s h e 1 l-8.P.-Todd consortium. Sir Arnold decided to retire from the Maui scene on the expiry of his three-year re-appointment to offshore mining. “The main reason I’m retiring is that I’m now 78 years old and can no longer carry the load I once could,” he said. “There are also many things I still want to do which I have been prevented from doing because of the time Maui matters have required.” During the last year as chairman of both Maui Development and Offshore Mining, Maui had taken up about half of his working week. “1 have been thrilled to

be associated with the project. At the present time, the full potential of Maui isn’t being realised, but in a few years, Maui will be in full production and will be adding considerably to New Zealand’s wealth.” Sir Arnold said he agreed with the comment that the Maui gas field, as the basis of liquid fuels and petrochemical industries could, prove an economic saviour to New Zealand. In further energy developments, the concept of a 50-50 partnership between

the State and oil companies was worth considering again. "The arrangement has worked very well in the case of Maui and I see no reason why, if it is adopted in other cases, it should not work as well or even better than Maui.” Sir Arnold said his only real regret during his six years with Maui was that better progress had not been made on a largescale liquefied petroleum gas operation for the country. “I, personally, would have been happier if L.P.G. had been further ahead than it is ... but the long wrangling that has taken place has now ended.” An announcement on the setting up of the L.P.G. operation was imminent. Although Sir Arnold has retired from working on Maui, he will still spend at least 20 hours a week on other work. He is a director of the Reserve Bank, a member of the Superannuation Investments Board, and was recently appointed to the advisory committee examining the operations of the Public Service Investment Society.

The new time on his hands he plans to spend writing books — one on the history of North Otago, and at least one other “naturally in the field of politics.”