Shane Jones says oil and gas exploration is necessary to deal with energy security issues, as natural gas reserves rapidly decline.

The Government is reversing the oil and gas exploration ban, beyond onshore Taranaki.

It comes after around 20,000 people marched in Central Auckland yesterday, to protest the Fast Track Approvals Bill.

Resources Minister Shane Jones says about 20 percent of all our energy needs are related to gas.

"Because of the chilling effect of Jacinda Ardern's announcement in 2018, we're relying progressively more on Indonesian coal."

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