DEEP SEA OIL DRILLING QUESTIONS AND

ANSWERS
Purpose
Many people have lots of questions about deep sea oil drilling, but theres
a lot of confusion about the answers. This Q&A sheet is drafted by one
concerned citizen, and is offered to help folks take an informed position on
the matter.

PART ONE: WHAT IS DEEP SEA OIL DRILLING?

What is deep sea oil drilling?
1.

Oil, or petroleum, is a fossilised fuel found deep inside the earths

crust.1 Deep sea oil drilling is the act of accessing those petroleum
deposits in ocean waters deeper than
120m.2
Who drills for oil in New Zealand?
1.1. Mostly, its energy companies who apply to
drill for oil. However, energy companies
can
joint
venture
or
otherwise form
working
relationships with other entities (including
affected iwi authorities). For example, on
5 December 2013, Norwegian company,
Statoil,3 acquired an oil permit from our
Government4 to explore for oil in an area
off the West Coast of the North Island known as the Te Reinga Basin
(see image, above). Statoil also acquired a second permit on 9
December 20145 to explore for oil further out off the West Coast in an
area
known
as the New
Caledonia
Basin
(see
image, right).
How is the deep
sea
oil
accessed?
1.2. The primary
mechanism
used to get to
the oil is by
drilling an oil
well using an oil drill rig. The kind of rig used is dependent on both
the water depth and water conditions. 6 Where wells are in relatively
shal-low water (up to 120 m), Jack-up rigs are commonly used; these
rigs have feet that rest on the sea floor in order to support them and

keep them in place. In deeper water, Semi-submersible rigs or Drill

ships are used. These rigs can either use dynamic position systems or
anchors and cables/chains to maintain their position.7
How do you get permission to drill for oil?
1.3. Multiple government agencies, together with regional and district
councils, share the responsibility for regulating oil activities in New
Zealand through the different stages of assessing the environment
for oil deposit potential, oil exploration, oil drilling and
decommissioning of oil drilling projects8 - see the graphic9 below:

1.4. Each Agencys responsibilities in the process, and the obligations of

deep sea oil drilling permit holders, are governed by a number of
laws and regulations.10 The primary instrument authorizing
companies to undertake oil activities is a permit granted by the
Crown. New Zealand Petroleum & Minerals administers the
permitting regime through the powers granted under the Crown
Minerals Act 1991 and associated programmes and regulations.

PART TWO: DEEP SEA OIL DRILLING THE RISKS AND

THREATS
Is there a link between deep sea oil drilling and Climate Change?
2.

Yes there definitely is. The United Nations (UN) Intergovernmental

Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is the global body of scientists that
produces regular reports on the state of climate science, and is
basically the consensus authority on climate change. 11 Its latest
Synthesis Report 2014 states12:
Continued emission of greenhouse gases will cause further
warming and long-lasting changes in all components of the
climate system, increasing the likelihood of severe, pervasive
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and irreversible impacts for people and ecosystems. ... Many

aspects of climate change and associated impacts will
continue for centuries, even if anthropogenic emissions of
greenhouse gases are stopped. The risks of abrupt or
irreversible changes increase as the magnitude of the
warming increases. [Emphasis added].
2.1. The IPCC reminds us of the link between oil and greenhouse gases:
as fossil fuels are used, they release their carbon back into the
atmosphere as a form of Green House Gas (GHG), and atmospheric
concentrations of GHGs are a key driver of the warming of the
climate system.13
What are some of the effects of climate change that oil is
contributing to?
2.2. There are significant risks of climate change to human populations,
including14:
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

Threats to biodiversity, including marine life, due to the inability

of plants and animals to adapt and evolve at the pace at which
the climate is changing15;
An increased frequency and intensity of severe weather events
(floods, droughts, storms);
Rising sea levels and with it land erosion, and mass dislocation
of populations;
Increased health risks (e.g. infectious diseases which are more
readily spread in warmer environments); and
Increased inter-governmental and societal conflict (e.g. as
competition for natural resources land, water, food - increases
as they become more scarce).

2.3. In other words, for about every 2C of global climate warming (and
depending on which part of the world you live in), we can expect to
see16:
a. 515% reductions in the yields of crops as currently grown;
b. 310% increases in the amount of rain falling during the heaviest

precipitation events, which can increase flooding risks;

c. 510% decreases in stream flow in some river basins; and
d. 200%400% increases in the area burned by wildfire.

2.4. Note that the poorest communities will be the most vulnerable to the
impacts of climate change,17 and Indigenous Peoples (e.g. Mori) tend
to feature disproportionately in the poverty statistics.18
2.5. Scientists and climate-policy experts now agree: climate change is
upon us, and it was and continues to be exacerbated by human
activities.19 An above 2o Celsius temperature rise is now a critical
threat, not just to our environment, but more importantly to
humanitys survival: At stake now...is the difference between a
newly unpleasant world and an uninhabitable one.20
What is the Arctic Methane Emergency, and the link with deep sea
oil drilling?
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2.6. As if the IPCCs climate change news wasnt bad enough, a key
update omitted from the IPCCs 2014 report concerns an even more
alarming phenomena.
At the 2014 COP20 Climate Change
Conference Lima, Peru, scientists and climate-policy experts warned
that it now may already too late to prevent the temperature of the
planets atmosphere from rising to the tipping point at which the
world will be locked into a near-term future of drought, food and
water shortages, melting ice sheets, shrinking glaciers, rising sea
levels and widespread flooding events that could harm the worlds
population and economy.21
They describe the situation as
Runaway: abrupt irreversible rapid global warming on a
catastrophic scale.22 This refers to the rapid, extremely dangerous
melting of what was (in pre-industrial atmospheric pollution times)
2.5 million square miles of Arctic sea ice that acts in the summer as a
cooling influence to the Arctic region, northern hemisphere and to
some extent the whole global climate:23
The Arctic summer ice albedo loss feedback (i.e., open sea
absorbs more heat than ice, which reflects much of it) passed
its tipping point in 2007 many decades earlier than models
projected, and scientists now agree the Arctic will be ice free
during the summer by 2030. However, that is not to say it
couldn't happen very much earlier.
Models of sea ice volume indicate a seasonally ice-free Arctic
likely by 2015, and possibly as soon as the summer of 2013.
[Emphasis added].
2.7. However, to compound problems, the Arctic melting is set to release
methane into the atmosphere which currently lies frozen on the sea
floor of the Arctic continental shelf methane being a greenhouse
gas that is over 70 times more potent than carbon dioxide for 20
years after emission:24
If methane release from Arctic sea floor hydrates happens on
a large scale and this year's reports suggest that it will
then this situation can start an uncontrollable sequence of
events that would make world agriculture and civilization
unsustainable. It is a responsible alarm, not alarmist, to say
that it is a real threat to the survival of humanity and most life
on Earth. [Emphasis added].25
2.8. In the words of Stewart Scott (Member, AMEG; 26 Founder, UPFSI27;
Deputy Director-General IESCO28): Id say we all need to pray about
this arctic methane emergency. This is the smoking gun going off.
The Arctic Methane Emergency is being totally under-reported.29
Therefore, the imperative to do all we can to mitigate our situation
and prevent any GHGs from entering our atmosphere is even more
critical and that includes carbon emitted from the burning of fossil
fuels.
What are other risks of deep sea oil drilling?
Oil Spills
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2.9. Other risks of deep sea oil drilling are well-known. Many are already
very aware of the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill, 30 the 2010 BP Horizon
gulf of Mexico ecological oil spill disaster, 31 and the incalculable
environmental, economic, social and cultural damage it created and
continues to inflict. However, these are only two of innumerable
incidents that have occurred from oil drilling, including deep sea
projects.

2.10. Public confidence in the New Zealand Government to competently

handle a medium-sized oil spill disaster (let alone of one of the
magnitude of the Gulf tragedy), also plummeted as a result of the
obvious lack of preparedness, oil containment and clean up capacity
of responsible Government Agencies following the 2011 Rena
shipwreck incident. We must keep in mind that deep water oil drilling
is many times more complicated and risky than on-land mining
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(where, say, 29 men lost their lives in the Pike River mining disaster)
or inshore oil drilling. The NZ Listener reports that the countrys
capacity to deal with spills has not stepped up markedly... there are
no plans to increase [Maritime New Zealands] capacity or to have
dedicated vessels to deal with spills.32 Furthermore, according to the
Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, plugging a blowout
would take six or seven days to fly in a capping stack, then three
weeks to get a vessel that would be able to manoeuvre the cap into
place.33
2.11. Ngai Tahu Chairperson, Sir Mark Solomon also reiterates, We do not
have the environmental protection measures, nor do we have the
capacity as a nation to deal with a major oil spill off our coastline.
And until were assured that they do have those capacities, we will
not support drilling off our coastline.34 If New Zealand cant even
handle a relatively minor incident, theres no way we can protect
ourselves from a deep sea drilling catastrophe.35
Seismic surveying
2.12. Used by the energy industry for decades, seismic surveying
produces images by generating, recording and analyzing sound
waves (also known as seismic waves) that travel through the Earth. 36
Density changes between rock or soil layers reflect the waves back to
the surface and the speed and strength that the waves are reflected
back indicates what geological features lie below, including the size
of underground oil and gas reserves.
2.13. New Zealand Petroleum and Minerals states that A seismic
survey ...can be used to collect data in two dimensions (2D seismic)
or three dimensions (3D)37...During a seismic survey geophones are
laid out in long lines and all connected together with a cable. The
cable is linked to a recording station (usually a 'recording truck')
where the data is filtered, recorded and placed on magnetic tapes or
large hard drives. At this stage the data is known as Raw Field data
and will need to be processed further after the survey to get an
image for the geologist to interpret.
2.14. The controversy is the harm that seismic surveying reportedly does
to marine life, including marine mammal injury or death. 38 The
potential for such harm is admitted by our Department of
Conservation which administers a Seismic Survey Code of
Conduct39 (the Code) as a precautionary measure against adverse
impacts on marine mammals.40 However, while apparently one of the
better examples around the world, the Code has none the less been
widely acknowledged as deficient for the protection of our marine
life,41 with a review of the Code planned for 2015.

PART THREE: DEEP SEA OIL DRILLING MITIGATION

If oil is so bad for our climate, what should we be doing to
mitigate the risk?

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3.

In the words of the United Nations Secretary-General on the post2015 sustainable development agenda, We must limit global
temperature rise to below 2 degrees Celsius if we are to avoid the
worst effects of climate change. Carbon dioxide is the largest
contributor to human-induced climate change. Fossil fuels usage and
deforestation are its two main sources. The longer we wait to take
action towards sustainable production and consumption, the more it
will cost to solve the problem and the greater the technological
challenges will be. 42

3.1. The IPCCs 2014 report reiterates the call to limit global warming
temperatures to 2o Celsius in order to avoid the worst effects of
climate change. This means keeping as much oil and other fossil
fuels in the ground as possible, and transitioning urgently and
speedily to renewable, clean, green, sustainable energy production.
In other words, we must, without delay to stop deep sea oil drilling
and other forms of fossil fuel production.
The Arctic Methane
Emergency demands rapid mobilisation and collaboration on a
national and international scale never before seen if we are to protect
a future for humanity. This makes the climate change issue the
biggest battlefront Humanity has ever faced, and makes encouraging
words of our Wartime leaders profoundly relevant:
Owing to past neglect, in the face of the plainest warnings,
we have now entered upon a period of dangerThe era of
procrastination, of half-measures, of soothing and baffling
expedients, of delays, is coming to its close. In its place we
are entering a period of consequences. 43

PART FOUR: DEEP SEA OIL DRILLING COULD ANY

BENEFITS BE WORTH IT?
4.

Obviously, human society and the industrial era has benefitted

hugely from fossil fuel-powered economies. And there are still
benefits to be gained from ongoing deep sea oil drilling and other
fossil fuel production. However, the sane conclusion must surely be
reached that any such benefits to be accrued (whether severally or
jointly) are not worth the ultimate sacrifice we face of the annihilation
of biodiversity and Life on the Planet as we know it, and the level of
human suffering and possible extinction of the human race.
However, for completeness sake lets put the often asked questions
to rest:

Will there be any Jobs for New Zealanders from deep sea oil
drilling?
4.1. While inshore oil drilling the likes of whats happening in Taranaki
may bring employment prospects, its important to make clear
distinctions: deep sea oil drilling is a very different scenario to inshore
drilling. When queried about jobs for the Far North from Statoils deep
sea oil drilling, company Vice President of exploration, Pl Haremo,
could not say how much of it would come to the Far North, 44 and in
fact reports are that Statoils activities will be serviced out of
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Taranaki.45 A link provided by Mr Haremo to demonstrate the kinds of

jobs provided indicates, however, that any jobs produced will be
available only to those who are highly skilled. 46 This is in line with
other extractive industry experiences requiring highly technical
expertise where unskilled New Zealand labour just wont get a looksee into the project, and deep sea oil drilling requires some of the
most technically skilled personnel that there is, many of whom are
imported in from overseas specifically for the project.47
4.2. If its jobs people want, thered be more opportunities generating
them with all the building and business activity required to transition
to a renewable-energy infrastructure. Furthermore, with so many
industry sectors dependent on environmental wellbeing (like our
fisheries industry, tourism, agriculture, horticulture and so on) the
devastating harm from climate change and a possible oil spill
threatens way more jobs (both currently in existence and for the
future) than would be offset by any new jobs created by deep sea oil
drilling. The risk just isnt worth it.
Will New Zealand receive royalties from deep sea oil drilling?
4.3. The answer is yes. However, when considering pros and cons, much
is made of the national interest imperative to allow and support
extractive industry in order that New Zealanders might continue to
enjoy the economic benefits derived from annual Crown royalties. 48
But a deeper exploration into the broader context reveals a more
nuanced situation49:
Earnings from minerals make up just 3% of New Zealands
wealth. In comparison, earnings from New Zealands
conservation land make up 20% of our wealth.
The total value of minerals mined in New Zealand is $1.6
billion compared to $21 billion earned by tourism, which
relies heavily of the preservation of conservation land. If
more mining was allowed in conservation lands, it would
damage the unspoiled natural landscapes, habitats and
wildlife that attract tourists from around the world. This
damage to our clean, green image and 100% Pure New
Zealand brand could cost us billions.
4.4. The other question is who really benefits, and who really pays? 50:
In 2006, the mining industry as a whole made a $236 million
loss before tax. That meant a tax write-off for many mining
companies - paid for by ordinary New Zealanders.
Sometimes mining companies, having made their profits, go
into liquidation, and abandon mines (known as orphan
mines). Then the Government (and taxpayers) are left to deal
with the environmental impact of the mines, which can be
very expensive. For example, taxpayers are paying $10
million to clean up the damage left behind at the Tui Mine in
Te Aroha.
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DOC is also paying to remedy the effects of abandoned mines

on conservation land in many other areas, and local and
regional councils (and their ratepayers) are also footing the
bill.
New Zealand taxpayers will also face paying the costs of
increasing carbon emissions as those who make the profits
from mining coal are not being required to meet their fair
share of the cost of its contribution to climate change.
While mining companies are sometimes prosecuted and fined
for breach of their RMA consents, the profits made by mining
outside the conditions of their consents usually far outweigh
the penalties. There is not enough monitoring and
enforcement of conditions to ensure they are effective.
5.

These are systemic concerns which can be applied to the extractive

industry generally. New Zealand also charges lower oil production
royalties than many other countries. 51 Put another way, thats huge
wealth forgone by New Zealand citizens for the extraction of our
natural resources - wealth that is extracted for the benefit of, and
transferred to, overseas interests and foreign company shareholders.

Wont more oil be available to New Zealanders because its drilled

locally?
5.1. No. As Petroleum Exploration and Production Association (Pepanz)
Chief Executive, David Robinson, explains: ...due to the lack of a big
domestic market for oil and gas...[a]ny resources discovered have to
be exported.52 Incidentally, this also addresses any concerns folks
have with New Zealand using oil imported from countries that permit
companies (all too often) violation of indigenous peoples rights to
produce petroleum.
Companies domestic extraction of our oil
resources do not mean we will be able to use that oil to offset any
petroleum immorally extracted overseas and imported for New
Zealand use.
Dont I need oil to drive my car?
5.2. For the short term, while were transitioning to a more moral, clean,
affordable, renewable energy production system and infrastructure,
yes. But not in the medium-to-long term. Many countries are already
aggressively transitioning away from oil dependence to clean,
renewable (and even free) energy production, technology and
infrastructure some are even 100% renewable energy powered right
now.53 The only reason citizens in New Zealand are forced to
continue to use oil-based energy is the lack of political will of your
Government to develop a realistic exit strategy from what is in
essence a sunset oil industry.
Dont we need oil to keep our country running?
5.3. For the short term, yes. But not in the medium-to-long term. In fact,
the greater imperative now is to urgently shift from a sunset oil
industry to a sunrise system of renewable energy production.
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Consider that many countries are already aggressively transitioning

away from oil dependence to clean, renewable (and even free)
energy production, technology and infrastructure.
In fact, the
demands to Governments and the Business Sector from wider society
all around the world - from market investors, 54 faith-based groups,55
indigenous peoples,56 social justice NGOs, the scientific community
and others - are gaining momentum not only of out of sheer financial
need (e.g. the decline in oil prices), but also due to the deafening
condemnation regarding the oil industrys contribution to our dire
climate change situation.
5.4. The risks are clear but so too are the opportunities:
There is an international green race being run. Every
country in the world is taking part. It is as inevitable as it is
unstoppable. What we do next will dictate whether we
continue to be on the pace or be left behind. 57

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Join Facebook pages: Stop Statoil (Whangarei, Auckland), Protect Te
Reinga, Hokianga Environmental Protection Group, Oil Free Auckland,
Oil Free Wellington or other.

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10 | P a g e

For more about how petroleum is formed, see http://www.nzpam.govt.nz/cms/iwicommunities/finding-petroleum-minerals/what-is-petroleum.

2
New Zealand Petroleum and Minerals defines shallow water as up to 120 m. Therefore,
deep water is anything greater than 120m.
3
For more about Statoil and its New Zealand activities, see
http://www.statoil.com/en/about/worldwide/newzealand/Pages/default.aspx.
4
For permit details, go to http://data.nzpam.govt.nz/PermitWebMaps/Home/StaticMap?
permit=55781. From that page, click on the permit number 55781 link for more details.
5
For permit details go to http://data.nzpam.govt.nz/PermitWebMaps/Home/StaticMap?
permit=57057. From that page, click on the permit number 57057 link for more details.
6
For image source, see http://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/energy/stories/types-of-offshore-oilrigs. See also http://www.nzpam.govt.nz/cms/iwi-communities/government-role/deep-seadrilling#types.
7
See Drilling a well http://www.nzpam.govt.nz/cms/iwi-communities/finding-petroleumminerals/what-is-petroleum/exploration-phases/exploration-drilling-operations.
8
For more, see http://www.nzpam.govt.nz/cms/iwi-communities/government-role.
9
Ref http://www.epa.govt.nz/EEZ/who_does_what/Pages/default.aspx. See also
http://www.nzpam.govt.nz/cms/iwi-communities/government-role/who-does-what-offshore.
10
See http://www.nzpam.govt.nz/cms/iwi-communities/government-role/who-does-whatoffshore.
11
http://www.ipcc.ch/.
12
Taken from the IPCCs Synthesis Report Headline statements from the Summary for
Policymakers: http://www.ipcc.ch/news_and_events/docs/ar5/ar5_syr_headlines_en.pdf. The
full Synthesis report is available here: http://www.ipcc.ch/pdf/assessmentreport/ar5/syr/SYR_AR5_LONGERREPORT_Corr2.pdf. Related presentation and video resources
are available here: http://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar5/syr/.
13
See para 4.11, p11. According to the leading international body for the assessment of climate
change, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, climate change is unequivocal. This
is evident from observations of increases in global average air and ocean temperatures,
widespread melting of snow and ice and rising global average sea levels: See Scientific
evidence of climate change, at Gateway to the United Nations Systems Work on Climate
Change, http://www.un.org/wcm/content/site/climatechange/pages/gateway/the-science; ref
also Radio New Zealand, Science - World Weather (4 july 2013), at:
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/nights/audio/2560999/science-world-weather
14
See Consequences of climate change, at Gateway to the United Nations Systems Work on
Climate Change, http://www.un.org/wcm/content/site/climatechange/pages/gateway/thescience/consequences-for-the-future.

15

Many experts believe we are at the beginning or in the midst of the 6th planetary mass
extinction right now, caused by human activity: See for example, BBC Future: A looming
mass extinction caused by humans, http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20121101-alooming-mass-extinction.
16
United States Environmental Protection Agency, Climate Change Facts: Answers to Common
Questions:
http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/basics/facts.html. The EPA site uses 3.6o Fahrenheit, which
is the equivalent of 2o C.
17
See Consequences of climate change, at Gateway to the United Nations Systems Work on
Climate Change, http://www.un.org/wcm/content/site/climatechange/pages/gateway/thescience/consequences-for-the-future.
18
For more on the issues as they relate to Mori, see the Extractive Industry Discussion Paper
submitted to the Tai Tokerau Iwi Chairs Forum October 2013 (this paper was submitted to the
National Iwi Chairs Forum in November 2013):
https://www.scribd.com/doc/175239053/ICF-Extractive-Industry-Investigation-Paper-7Oct2013.
19
See Time to Get Real on Climate Change (Moyers and Company, 9 May 2014):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rA-fNEhOUgw
20
New York Times, Optimism Faces Grave Realities at Climate Talks (30 November 2014):
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/01/world/climate-talks.html?_r=0.
21
New York Times, Optimism Faces Grave Realities at Climate Talks (30 November 2014):
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/01/world/climate-talks.html?_r=0.
22
Arctic Methane Emergency Group: http://www.ameg.me/index.php/emergency. The
disconnect between the IPCC reports and this emerging and up-to-date expert advice reflects
the time lag of up to four years between official IPCC consensus reports, and reality, due to

the colossal job of collating all the data, and the bureaucracy associated with approving an
IPCC report: ref 24:30 mins into the AMEG briefing video https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=s2w0q6gxNiU.
23
Why is Arctic Methane an Emergency?: http://www.ameg.me/index.php/emergency.
24
Why is Arctic Methane an Emergency?: http://www.ameg.me/index.php/emergency.
25
For a full explanation of the Arctic Methane Emergency and its climate change implications
as presented at the 2014 COP20 Climate Change conference, Lima, see the series of three
videos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2w0q6gxNiU; https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=QQkNxuQ0DoI; and https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=ATIm8Ov1Fks&list=PL3fbkJSEIMMCW6YQl_ZC1CaxLvmeoE-uf&index=3.
26
Arctic Methane Emergency Group: http://www.ameg.me/index.php/about-ameg. For Mr
Scotts comment, see 18 seconds into the AMEG briefing video, and 24:20 mins respectively at
the "Arctic Methane Emergency" discussions at December 2014s COP20 climate conference in
Lima, Peru: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2w0q6gxNiU.
27
United Planet Faith and Science Initiative: http://www.upfsi.org/about/.
28
International Ecological Safety Collaborative Organization: http://www.iesco-iesco.org/.
29
Scotts colleague, Dr. Peter Wadhams (Professor of Ocean Physics, Cambridge University )
says, I dont think [civilization] can [survive a release of 50 giga tons of methane]. if you get
to 4o of warming then collapse of civilization is whats going to happen because the world wont
be able to sustain anywhere near its present population, so the result will be chaos, warfare.
For Dr Wadhams comment, see 2:25 mins into the AMEG briefing video, at the "Arctic Methane
Emergency" discussions at December 2014s COP20 climate conference in Lima, Peru:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2w0q6gxNiU.
30
For graphic below, see https://olwenhopley.wordpress.com/.
31
See The Big Fix: BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Cover up (27 December 2012):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KgFBciS_X0.
32
New Zealand Listener, Oil and gas exploration: New Zealands future (28 November 2013):
http://www.listener.co.nz/current-affairs/oil-and-gas-exploration-new-zealands-future/.
33
New Zealand Listener, Oil and gas exploration: New Zealands future (28 November 2013):
http://www.listener.co.nz/current-affairs/oil-and-gas-exploration-new-zealands-future/.
34
New Zealand Listener, Oil and gas exploration: New Zealands future (28 November 2013):
http://www.listener.co.nz/current-affairs/oil-and-gas-exploration-new-zealands-future/.
35
For an example of New Zealand deep water oil spill modelling, see http://oilspillmap.org.nz/.
36
See http://www1.lstargeo.com/our-business/what-is-seismic-surveys; and
http://www.nzpam.govt.nz/cms/iwi-communities/finding-petroleum-minerals/what-ispetroleum/exploration-activities#how-they-work.
37
The difference is in the distance between the kms-long survey line grid formations if the
grid formations are close together, then the data collected will be imaged in 3D.
38
Cause of injury or death is reported to include the bends (a sometimes fatal condition
resulting from the formation of nitrogen bubbles in the blood and tissues, because of too rapid
decompression, seen especially in deep-sea divers ascending rapidly from a dive. It is
characterized by severe pains in the joints and chest, skin irritation, cramps, nausea, and
paralysis). Marine mammals may suffer the bends when swimming too fast from ocean depths
to the surface to escape disruptive seismic surveying blasts.
39
The full name is the Code of Conduct for Minimising Acoustic Disturbance to Marine
Mammals from Seismic Survey Operations. See http://www.doc.govt.nz/conservation/marineand-coastal/seismic-surveys-code-of-conduct/.
40
See DoC Seismic Survey Code of Conduct Overview, at
http://www.doc.govt.nz/conservation/marine-and-coastal/seismic-surveys-code-ofconduct/overview/. For more on the harm of seismic surveying on marine life, see for example
Oil search puts dolphins at risk,http://www.odt.co.nz/opinion/opinion/330803/oil-search-putsdolphins-risk; New Zealand Listener, Oil and gas exploration: New Zealands future (28
November 2013): http://www.listener.co.nz/current-affairs/oil-and-gas-exploration-newzealands-future/; United Nations Environment Programs Expert Workshop on Underwater
Noise and its Impacts on Marine and Coastal Biodiversity (22 April 2014),
http://www.cbd.int/doc/?meeting=MCBEM-2014-01; A Deaf Whale is A Dead Whale: Seismic
Airgun Testing for Oil and Gas Threatens Marine Life and Coastal Economies (April 2013),
http://oceana.org/sites/default/files/reports/Seismic_Airgun_Testing_Report_FINAL.pdf.
41
Ref emails (17 December 2014-29 January 2015) between Catherine Murupaenga-Ikenn and
Dave Lundquist, Marine team member who leads DOCs efforts in implementing the seismic
surveying Code of Conduct at the national level.

42

The road to dignity by 2030: ending poverty, transforming all lives and protecting the
planet, Synthesis report of the Secretary-General on the post-2015 sustainable development
agenda (4 December 2014), http://www.un.org/ga/search/view_doc.asp?
symbol=A/69/700&Lang=E.
43
Sir Winston Churchill, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, 1940-1945, and 1951-1955.
44
Statoil's drilling plans strongly opposed (20 August 2014):
http://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/10398595/Statoils-drilling-plans-strongly-opposed.
45
See Oil Industry Fact Sheet (December 2014):
https://attachment.fbsbx.com/file_download.php?id=633221793472325&eid=ASvGDXw7G2_8uPpkXEqjMoFg0gNDNdpJesuKqKjKCT2Osy2y1_kY-6kPJj5lphGwg&inline=1&ext=1422677695&hash=AStYNNar3oweyCNm.
46
Ref email from Pl Haremo to Catherine Murupaenga-Ikenn (10 December 2014), with link to
http://www.statoil.com/en/NewsAndMedia/News/2014/Pages/14Feb_AastaHansteen.aspx.
47
For example, Trans-Tasman Resources admitted that it wouldnt provide jobs for local
unemployed, rather bringing in skilled workers: ref comments by Kiwis Against Seabed Mining
(KASM) chairperson, Phil McCabe, regarding the New Zealand Environmental Protection
Authoritys decision to decline a proposal to mine black sand from the seabed of the South
Taranaki Bight see Slap Down to Seabed Mining "Victory for common sense" (18 June 2014),
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1406/S00274/slap-down-to-seabed-mining-victory-forcommon-sense.htm.
48
The Minister of Energy and Resources advised that the current royalties value was $800m per
annum: ref Ministers meeting with Te Tai Tokerau iwi chairs and hap members 13 August
2013, offices of Te Rnanga o Ngpuhi, Kaikohe.
49
Forest and Bird website, Mining Q&A, http://www.forestandbird.org.nz/saving-ourenvironment/mining-q.
50
Forest and Bird website, Mining Q&A, note 38 above.
51
Ref Petroleum Exploration and Production Association (Pepanz) Chief Executive, David
Robinsons, quote that major operators are attracted to New Zealand in part due to the low
royalties of 5% of net revenues: New Zealand Listener, Oil and gas exploration: New
Zealands future (28 November 2013): http://www.listener.co.nz/current-affairs/oil-and-gasexploration-new-zealands-future/.
52
New Zealand Listener, Oil and gas exploration: New Zealands future (28 November 2013):
http://www.listener.co.nz/current-affairs/oil-and-gas-exploration-new-zealands-future/.
53
See for example, This Polish Town is 100% Powered by Renewable Energy! (22 September
2014): http://inhabitat.com/this-polish-town-is-100-powered-by-renewable-energy/; 91 Illinois
Communities Powered 100% By Green Electricity (7 march 2014):
http://cleantechnica.com/2014/03/07/91-illinois-communities-powered-100-green-electricity/;
Is 100% Renewable Energy Possible in France by 2020? (August 2011):
http://www.geni.org/globalenergy/research/renewable-energy-potential-of-france/Renewable
%20Energy%20in%20France.%20PBM%20final.pdf.
54
For example, see the list of institutions committed to divesting in fossil fuels, at Fossil Free:
http://gofossilfree.org/commitments/.
55
For example, see Pope Francis Calls for Action on Climate Change & Capitalism on a Planet
"Exploited by Human Greed" (31 December 2014):
http://www.democracynow.org/2014/12/31/pope_francis_calls_for_action_on; and World Council
of Churches pulls fossil fuel investments (11 July 2014):
http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/jul/11/world-council-of-churches-pulls-fossilfuel-investments?CMP=share_btn_fb.
56
Ref the relevant Articles contained in the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples:
http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unpfii/documents/DRIPS_en.pdf; and also the relevant operative
paragraphs contained in the Outcome Document from the 2014 UN World Conference on
Indigenous Peoples: http://www.un.org/en/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=A/RES/69/2.
57
Pure Advantage Campaign: For a more in-depth coverage of the issues, we recommend
reports such as Pure Advantages Green growth: opportunities for New Zealand (November
2012): pdf download available from their website at http://www.pureadvantage.org/. Pure
Advantage, whos Trustees include Ngi Tahus Sir Mark Solomon, made a presentation to the
National Iwi Chairs Forum on 7 December 2012 based on this report. Considerable attention is
given to fossil fuels in the report.