Government offers up blocks of New Zealand for oil and gas exploration with no guidelines, then pockets all the royalties and leaves the regions to clean up any mess, Horizons region councillor Rachel Keedwell says.
She wanted Horizons to show some leadership by putting rules for oil and gas exploration in place, analysing the costs and benefits of it and having regional mitigation measures.
Dr Keedwell took those ideas to a strategy and policy committee meeting on August 12 and lost two out of three of the motions. The third, having an analysis of costs and benefits done, was narrowly won in a 6:5 vote.
Councillors against it argued that oil companies were not knocking on the council's door, asking to drill for oil and gas. Dr Keedwell said when they did they could act fast and it would be better to have policies in place.
What she would like is a region-wide moratorium on oil and gas exploration and recovery. She'd prefer to see investment in cleaner technologies that would not add to climate change.
"I don't think the rest of my council see the world quite the same way that I do."
She said climate change was happening, was everyone's business and shouldn't be left to central government. And she didn't intend to let the matter lie.
"I'm not sure what the next step is. I will wait and hear from the community."
There has been a tentative start to oil and gas exploration, with TAG Oil drilling one exploratory well in Tararua District. The company said the result was interesting, and has consent to drill again.
The Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment (PCE) has recommended more regulation for the country's oil and gas exploration, through a National Policy Statement like the one for water quality. She said its effects on communities should be considered in a more holistic way.
Government's response was "a one-page press release, saying they would consider her report".
Dr Keedwell had a close look at the effects of oil and gas extraction on a Green Party field trip to Taranaki, where she said the regional council's approach was "extraordinarily permissive".
Rules were needed about waste disposal, well proximity to houses and schools and making companies responsible for clearing up abandoned wells.
"If we're going to allow this activity, lets get all the plans in place first, and then let them in."