Rainbow Warrior in Deep Sea Oil Drilling Zone Off Canterbury

Rainbow Warrior in Deep Sea Oil Drilling Zone Off Canterbury and Otago, heading to sub-Antarctic Islands

Tuesday 29 January 2013: The Rainbow Warrior is heading to the Auckland Islands which is home to critically endangered sea lions, yellow eyed penguins and Gibson’s albatross. The islands and surrounding marine reserve are listed as a World Heritage Area, alongside the Egyptian Pyramids and the Grand Canyon.

Following the departure from Lyttleton yesterday, the Rainbow Warrior is currently sailing through the oil drilling zone off Canterbury that Anadarko plans to drill in by the end of 2013. Here the Rainbow Warrior crew saw juvenile sperm whales feeding on the surface surrounded by royal albatross, giant petrels and a number of other sea birds who call this area home.

“The Government wants to open up vast areas for deep sea oil drilling south of Dunedin, Stewart Island, and into the wild seas towards the Auckland Islands. Many of our incredible and rare native birds, sea lions and whales live here and would be at risk,” said Bunny McDiarmid, Executive Director of Greenpeace New Zealand.

Dates and location: The Rainbow Warrior is expected to arrive at the Auckland Islands on Thursday 31 January and depart Sunday 3 February after documenting some of our most marvellous wildlife. On Monday 4 February we’ll be documenting the wildlife of Snares Island, south of Stewart Island.

In December the Government also gave out new deep sea oil and gas exploration permits (1):

• Out from Dunedin to Shell, OMV and Mitsui in the Great South Basin

• Out from Wellington/Wairarapa/Marlborough to Anadarko which also puts Kaikoura in the the spill zone

Ends

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