Call for N.Z. role in Maui development

Press, 12 November 1979, Page 7

Call for N.Z. role in Maui development

Auckland New Zealand expertise should be used to help build the multi-million dollar Maui gas and synthetic fuel industry, according to a top engineer. Mr M. A. Louden, chairman of the energy committee of the New Zealand Institution of Engineers, fears that too many experts will be brought from overseas. The grounds for those fears are contained in the comprehensive energy report made by the Planning Council. Mr Louden said that the council appeared to have put too much emphasis on the role of overseas technological skills, and the reported suggestion thar a lot of the energy programme would consist of ‘arge, capital-intensive

projects with high import content. “A mystique should not be generated round this imported technology,” he said. “New Zealand’s engineering profession should not be underestimated. "Admittedly, it will be necessary to obtain foreign expertise in certain highly technological fields, and to import special production equipment, but the tremendous amount of general engjneeering services required in the various projects should not be sought overseas.” Mr Louden said that the proportion of imported special expertise should be only io per cent. New Zealand engineers could provide the rest. A policy of full use of indigenous skills would entice New Zealand engineers who were living overseas, he said.