Greenpeace are criticising a reported statement by the new Minister of Energy, Megan Woods, that the decision about whether to issue a permit for oil exploration is merely an \u201coperational matter\u201d. <\/p>\n
The statement was made in regards to the Amazon Warrior – the world\u2019s largest seismic survey ship – which is due to arrive in New Zealand waters imminently. However, the Government has yet to approve its permit to seismic blast for oil and gas in the Taranaki Basin this summer. <\/p>\n
\u201cUltimately, it\u2019s the Minister\u2019s signature that will make or break this project. It is not merely an operational matter. The choice is firmly in her hands,\u201d says Kate Simcock, Lead Climate Campaigner for Greenpeace New Zealand.<\/p>\n
The environmental organisation has sent a letter to the Woods, calling on her to intervene and stop the ship from undertaking its survey. \u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThe new Government has made strong statements about tackling climate change head on and protecting our treasured marine mammals,\u201d says Simcock.<\/p>\n
\u201cThose bold words now need to be honoured with bold action to end the search for new oil and gas in New Zealand.\u201d<\/p>\n
Scientists recently discovered that the permit area is home to a massive blue whale population and is New Zealand\u2019s only known blue whale feeding ground. <\/p>\n
Seismic testing involves loud acoustic explosions being fired into the ocean from a survey ship every 10 seconds, 24 hours a day, over weeks and months. It is known to disturb marine mammals which rely on sound to communicate, feed, and nurture their young and cause chronic distress over time.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is the first big test of the Government\u2019s commitment to acting on climate change. If they allow this Beast to blast for oil off our shores, the Government can expect public resistance to\u00a0 this decision,\u201d says\u00a0 Simcock. \u00a0<\/p>\n
ENDS<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Friday, November 24: Greenpeace are criticising a reported statement by the new Minister of Energy, Megan Woods, that the decision about whether to issue a permit for oil exploration is merely an \u201coperational matter\u201d.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2112,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_planet4_optimize_post_is_variant":false,"_planet4_optimize_experiment_name":"","_planet4_optimize_variant_name":"","ep_exclude_from_search":false,"p4_og_title":"","p4_og_description":"","p4_og_image":"","p4_og_image_id":"","p4_seo_canonical_url":"","p4_campaign_name":"","p4_local_project":"","p4_basket_name":"","p4_department":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[26,16],"p4-page-type":[7],"class_list":["post-1828","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-greenpeace","tag-oil-and-gas","tag-climate","p4-page-type-press-release"],"yoast_head":"\n