Indeed. Though, even if the government reversed (or dramatically diluted) their decision in the face of an energy disaster, it may well still be too late to attract Big Oil back.
It would take a lot of convincing anyway, after making such a hasty and ill-conceived policy with virtually no consultation. The oil explorers will be thinking, fool me once shame on you...fool me twice, shame on me.
Patrick Smellie wrote a piece that may be of interest in the herald.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/...ectid=12241832