An analysis of the role of discourse in shaping New Zealand's energy production landscape

Abstract

Energy has become an increasingly important commodity within modern societies over the last century. Energy now forms an important component of a country’s economy and social wellbeing. Methods of energy production are constantly changing over time as a result of a country’s physical and political energy landscape. This study uses discourse as a tool to analyse political discussions around energy production and energy related issues. New Zealand has an interesting energy landscape which is dominated by renewable methods of energy production. New Zealand is also renowned for hydroelectricity and geothermal energy production, however is lagging behind in the development of other renewable resources such as wind, to which New Zealand has access to a valuable resource. The political energy landscape of New Zealand appears to have an important role in shaping the country’s energy profile and production landscape. A qualitative analysis approach is taken to address the overall research question of “how have energy discourses shaped methods of energy production on a temporal scale”. This study employs content analysis to critically analyse the use of language within ministerial speeches to determine the underlying context of political energy discourses. This study also displays a timeline of New Zealand’s energy history to visually portray important events and changes within the physical and political energy landscapes. New Zealand’s energy production methods have not undergone rapid transitions over time. Instead New Zealand has experienced changes in the scale of production and an increase in demand side approaches. Renewable energy has received increasing attention and government investment, however as New Zealand does not heavily rely on the use of non-renewable resources for energy production, a transition to a sustainable energy future will not require rapid shifts away from current methods of production. This study acknowledges how discourse can be used as a tool to understand the political context of energy landscapes.