Press release - July 15, 2011
Auckland, July 15 2011: Greenpeace NZ is calling on the Government to stop being secretive about what appears to be a major back-down in its plan to open New Zealand up for offshore deep-water oil exploration.
A deliberately muddled statement (1) has appeared on the Ministry of Economic Development’s website, saying that: “Both Northland and Reinga Block Offers attracted interest from local and international companies but no permit awards were announced.”
The two deep water Block Offers were made in January 2010 and closed in August last year.
“The Government appears to be hiding a back-down,” says Steve Abel, Greenpeace NZ Climate Campaigner.
“We’ve called the Ministry today. A spokesperson there has refused to deny that they have backed down on the permitting of these blocks.
“That person also wouldn’t clarify if the negotiations are ongoing, or if they have been withdrawn altogether,” Abel says.
“The spectre of oil spills off Northland’s Ninety-Mile Beach is not something the Government wants going into an election. Therefore we believe that the Government has decided that pursing its strategy for oil exploration off Northland is too politically poisonous - and has therefore climbed down in the face of public opposition,” Abel says.
1) http://www.nzpam.govt.nz/cms/petroleum/blocks-offers/results-of-petroleum-blocks-offers
Note to editors;
In January last year, then Energy and Resources Minister Gerry Brownlee described the upcoming block offer in these glowing terms: "This is an exciting opportunity for New Zealand and explorers alike.
It is one of the most prospective frontier basins in the New Zealand region with all the elements required for an active petroleum system present over a large area."