{"id":1786,"date":"2015-02-05T16:59:00","date_gmt":"2015-02-05T04:59:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/new-zealand\/press-release\/a-big-swing-against-deep-sea-drilling-for-auckland-council-but-democracy-went-to-the-toilet\/"},"modified":"2024-07-12T15:28:32","modified_gmt":"2024-07-12T03:28:32","slug":"a-big-swing-against-deep-sea-drilling-for-auckland-council-but-democracy-went-to-the-toilet","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/story\/a-big-swing-against-deep-sea-drilling-for-auckland-council-but-democracy-went-to-the-toilet\/","title":{"rendered":"A big swing against deep sea drilling for Auckland Council but democracy went to the toilet"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Chaos reigned today in the Auckland Council meeting when deep sea oil drilling hit the agenda and we\u2019re all a little stunned by what we witnessed.<\/p>\n\n

Here\u2019s what happened.<\/p>\n\n

Hot on the heels of Christchurch Council making a strong submission<\/a> essentially opposing new oil drilling off their coast, it was Auckland\u2019s turn.<\/p>\n\n

After people from all over New Zealand flooded the councillors with email, text messages and phone calls calling on them to say NO to deep sea drilling, a big crowd turned up to the first council meeting of 2015. It was standing room only and the councillors were in no doubt that this is an issue of great concern.<\/p>\n\n

Greenpeace was granted speaking rights so I took the opportunity to present oil spill modelling<\/a> demonstrating the potentially devastating impacts on West Coast beaches and harbours of a deep sea blow-out. I spoke briefly about how important clean oceans and coastlines are to New Zealanders and of the impact an oil spill would have on them.<\/p>\n\n

A vigorous debate ensued. The government\u2019s plan to open vast areas of ocean off the west coast to risky deep sea drilling was in the spotlight. Councillors voiced concerns that the economic risks of a spill had never been evaluated, the purported benefits were questionable and that oil slicks don\u2019t respect arbitrary boundaries around marine mammal sanctuaries. All good points.<\/p>\n\n

After some debate, a majority of councillors then indicated that they would vote for Councillor Casey\u2019s amendment calling for no petroleum permits to be issued – effectively a ban. The council looked set to oppose deep sea oil drilling and we were on the edge of our seats.<\/p>\n\n

But then something absurd unfolded.<\/p>\n\n

It went to the vote after former National MP Arthur Anae had made a heartfelt statement that he had to consider his grandchildren and would therefore be voting against deep sea drilling – or for the amendment. (We had really started feeling like it might actually go our way at this point.)<\/p>\n\n

The votes were cast and the split was 9 for and 9 against. A dead heat.<\/p>\n\n

In this instance the Chairman George Wood is allowed a casting vote. He voted for drilling  (against the amendment). Then Arthur Anae walked back into the room! He had apparently just made a quick trip to the toilet and missed the vote. There were instant calls for the vote to be taken again but the Chair refused.<\/p>\n\n

The public gallery erupted in noisy dismay with shouts of \u201ctravesty\u201d and \u201cshame!\u201d But the Chair held his ground and an adjournment was taken. So despite a majority swing against the drilling, the democratic process failed to record it.<\/p>\n\n

It was a rollercoaster morning – both heartening and disappointing.<\/p>\n\n

It\u2019s heartening because the Auckland Council\u2019s position on the 2014 block offer elicited only one vote against drilling by Councillor Cathy Casey and this year it was 9 votes against drilling. That\u2019s a massive swing for the country\u2019s biggest council and sends a strong message to Government and the oil drillers.<\/p>\n\n

Just one lingering question remains. Where was Mayor Len Brown on the first day of Council in 2015? Where was he for the vote on this important issue? Mayor Brown was nowhere to be seen.<\/p>\n\n