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Rt Hon Winston Peters

New Zealand First Leader
3 OCTOBER 2017

Petrol Companies Should Foot Bill, Not Taxpayers

The big petrol companies should foot the bill for the NZ Defence Force helping out after the blow-out of the Marsden Point to Auckland pipeline, says New Zealand First Leader Rt Hon Winston Peters.

“Why should the NZ Defence Force and New Zealand taxpayers bear the cost when big petrol companies like Z Energy, BP and Mobil own and operate the pipeline?

“It is not as though they are short of money; they make millions of dollars in profits.

“BP lifted annual profit 15 per cent in 2016 to $147 million; Z Energy’s profit jumped to $243 million in the 12 months ended March 31 and ExxonMobil, had a $91 million profit in 2016.

“They should be grateful the NZ Defence Force provided fuel tanker drivers, other specialist staff, the loan of a filter to Wynyard Wharf and deployed HMNZS Endeavour to Marsden Point, and the Navy said itself it was a huge job to get away at short notice. All that costs money – taxpayers’ money.

“They can now acknowledge their gratitude by paying up,” says Mr Peters.

ENDS

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