Further oil and gas drilling in Taranaki - disappointing
FROM: Climate Justice Taranaki
DATE: 12th April 2018 - for immediate release

"Climate Justice Taranaki welcomes central government's decision to
issue no more offshore oil and gas exploration licenses. Finally, the
government have listened to iwi, hapū and communities from across
Aotearoa in not releasing any new offshore permits for oil and gas
drilling. However, we are also deeply disappointed that it is
considering releasing 1,703 square kilometres of land for new onshore
drilling here in Taranaki. We all know that fossil fuels need to stay in
the ground - offshore and onshore!" says Urs Signer, a member of Climate
Justice Taranaki.

"The government says it will consult with hapū and iwi to identify areas
of sensitivity or significance that the Minister needs to be aware of.
However, a potential 23% of onshore Taranaki land could be available to
companies wanting to drill, which will further contribute to the climate
crisis and destroy the local environment."

"Companies have been drilling for oil and gas in Taranaki since the
1860s and fracking since the early 1990s. They discharge toxic drilling
waste back into old wells or spread it onto paddocks in so-called
landfarms. Communities living around wellsites bear the brunt of noise
and traffic impacts. The local councils are allying themselves with the
industry to resist the basic safeguards for human health and safety. It
is real sad to see the central government continuing to sacrifice
Taranaki for political trade off."

"The government can't pretend to be proactive on climate change while at
the same time enabling further drilling in Taranaki. The time for action
on climate change was yesterday. Let's get together in our communities,
hapū and iwi and keep pushing the government and build our collective
capacity to oppose further drilling and develop a truly sustainable and
just economy" concludes Urs Signer.

ENDS

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