Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More
Parliament

Gordon Campbell | Parliament TV | Parliament Today | Video | Questions Of the Day | Search

 

Just One Official Responsible for All NZ Oil Wels

Charles
CHAUVEL

Environment Spokesperson


Safety Last – Just One Official Responsible for All NZ Oil Wells

The Labour Party is expressing concern that the Government employs just one person to be responsible for the safety of all oil wells in New Zealand, whether on or off-shore.

“This fact, confirmed in an Environment Defence Society (EDS) research paper released last week, beggars belief, given the National-led Government’s move to massively expand petroleum exploration,” said Labour’s Environment Spokesperson Charles Chauvel.

“National has decided that there will be much more drilling for oil in New Zealand. This includes a big expansion in offshore exploration, as evidenced by the license granted to Petrobras in the Raukumara Basin.

“There are no environmental safeguards or conditions attached to this license. Even if there had been, they would have been practically unenforceable, with only one public servant in the entire Ministry of Economic Development responsible for all the safety issues across all petroleum exploration in our Exclusive Economic Zone, which totals 1.3m square nautical miles.

“New Zealand needs to do much better in managing the risks it faces, especially in light of greatly expanded exploration activity. Our economy couldn't stand a disaster such as the Gulf of Mexico or the Timor Sea spills last year.

“EDS is right to point out that community concern about the dangers of petroleum exploration in the EEZ is well-founded. There is inadequate environmental safety regulation and there has been completely unsatisfactory community consultation.

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

“Little wonder that local iwi Te Whanau a Apanui has just announced that it intends to lodge a complaint over the failure to consult with it over the granting of the Petrobras license with the UN Special Rapporteur for Indigenous Rights.

“Under Labour, there would be proper regulation of activity in New Zealand’s EEZ, and there would be proper consultation with affected groups and communities.

“National’s environmental record is abysmal. Its newly-created Environmental Protection Authority was supposed to regulate the EEZ. But it does not do so, and it does not even have the express obligation to protect the environment. Its obligations to consult, including with iwi, are unclear and insufficient.

“National needs to do much better, and to do so urgently.”


________________________________________


© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines

 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.