Doubts as oil industry insider-turned Wellington City councillor changes climate tune

He was the Kiwi face of the oil industry, an outspoken critic of climate change science, and now Sean Rush is tipped to head Wellington City Council's transport portfolio.

Greenpeace has described Rush as a known climate change denier, and said his climate science studies were window dressing and a case of "know thy enemy".

Rush, tipped to be leading the running to be Wellington City Council's transport portfolio holder, said his previous views on climate change were now different.

"My understanding of the science and politics evolves through study, etc," he said.

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He voted for the Green Party as a student at Victoria University and it had some "great people", including Deputy Mayor Sarah Free.

This week Rush remained on the website as the Australia-Pacific regional director of the Association of International Petroleum Negotiators, a group sponsored by Shell, Anadarko Petroleum, Exxon Mobil, and others. 

Rush said he resigned that position about a year ago.

He remains the sole director and shareholder of Sean Rush Energy and Infrastructure Law, a firm dedicated to energy and infrastructure wi....