Greenpeace says the reported failure of Texan company Anadarko to find oil off both the Raglan and Otago coasts confirms the Government needs to stop supporting foreign oil companies and start backing our local clean energy industry.

There has been a surge in the number of people calling for Energy Minister Simon Bridges to be sacked following his shock move to allow oil and gas drilling in a marine sanctuary which is home to the critically endangered Maui’s dolphin.

Auckland politicians are facing increasing pressure over a controversial deep sea oil drilling vote set to take place in the Town Hall tomorrow.

A “dirty deal” between big business and the Government to sideline the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and strip it of some of its powers is being considered after the watchdog declined two seabed mining applications.

Auckland, 1 April 2014 - Commenting ahead of tomorrow’s government announcement about new oil drilling exploration areas in New Zealand, Nathan Argent, Greenpeace’s chief policy advisor, said:

The revelation that Shell has advised its investment bank to offload its $1 billion New Zealand portfolio is another big nail in the coffin of the Government’s petroleum agenda, according to Greenpeace New Zealand.

A recent change in the balance of power at the Auckland Council could see a vote against the Government’s offshore oil plans succeed today, where it has previously narrowly failed.

The absence of any offshore oil permits and just a single onshore permit in the just-announced 2016 Block Offer shows that the National Government’s oil agenda is broken, says Greenpeace.

Greenpeace shares people's concerns about human sewage on Auckland's beaches, just as we care about cow sewage in New Zealand's rivers.