Friday, 19 August 2022
Meet the JournalistsPremiumAucklandWellingtonCanterbury/South Island
CrimePoliticsHealthEducationEnvironment and ClimateNZ Herald FocusData journalismKāhu, Māori ContentPropertyWeather
Small BusinessOpinionPersonal FinanceEconomyBusiness TravelCapital Markets
Politics
Premium SportRugbyCricketRacingNetballBoxingLeagueFootballSuper RugbyAthleticsBasketballMotorsportTennisCyclingGolfAmerican SportsHockeyUFC
NZH Local FocusThe Northern AdvocateThe Northland AgeThe AucklanderWaikato HeraldBay of Plenty TimesHawke's Bay TodayRotorua Daily PostWhanganui ChronicleStratford PressManawatu GuardianKapiti NewsHorowhenua ChronicleTe Awamutu Courier
Covid-19
Te Rito
Te Rito
OneRoof PropertyCommercial Property
Open JusticeVideoPodcastsTechnologyWorldOpinion
SpyTVMoviesBooksMusicCultureSideswipeCompetitions
Fashion & BeautyFood & DrinkRoyalsRelationshipsWellbeingPets & AnimalsVivaCanvasEat WellCompetitionsRestaurants & Menus
New Zealand TravelAustralia TravelInternational Travel
Our Green FutureRuralOneRoof Property
Career AdviceCorporate News
Driven MotoringPhotos
SudokuCodecrackerCrosswordsWordsearchDaily quizzes
Classifieds
KaitaiaWhangareiDargavilleAucklandThamesTaurangaHamiltonWhakataneRotoruaTokoroaTe KuitiTaumarunuiTaupoGisborneNew PlymouthNapierHastingsDannevirkeWhanganuiPalmerston NorthLevinParaparaumuMastertonWellingtonMotuekaNelsonBlenheimWestportReeftonKaikouraGreymouthHokitikaChristchurchAshburtonTimaruWanakaOamaruQueenstownDunedinGoreInvercargill
NZ HeraldThe Northern AdvocateThe Northland AgeThe AucklanderWaikato HeraldBay Of Plenty TimesRotorua Daily PostHawke's Bay TodayWhanganui ChronicleThe Stratford PressManawatu GuardianKapiti NewsHorowhenua ChronicleTe Awamutu CourierVivaEat WellOneRoofDriven MotoringThe CountryPhoto SalesNZ Herald InsightsWatchMeGrabOneiHeart RadioRestaurant Hub

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.
Business

Group vows to hinder Otago oil drill

12 Jan, 2014 09:37 PM4 minutes to read
Protesters show their resolve to keep Anadarko Petroleum Corporation's deep-sea drilling operations away from the Otago coast. Photos / Craig Baxter

Protesters show their resolve to keep Anadarko Petroleum Corporation's deep-sea drilling operations away from the Otago coast. Photos / Craig Baxter

Otago Daily Times
By John Lewis

Oil Free Otago has established a "rapid response" team of up to 260 people to take to the waters around Otago to hinder Anadarko Petroleum Corporation's deep-sea drilling operations.

Oil Free Otago spokeswoman Niamh O'Flynn said the team was established during the Oil Free Future Summit in Dunedin at the weekend, and hinted it may be used to block the shipping lane in Otago Harbour to stop Anadarko vessels from using Dunedin as a servicing port.

The flotilla could also be rallied in the open waters around Otago's coastline as part of its resistance to the petroleum giant.

The logistics of how their protest would be carried out and what it would involve, was still to be decided, Ms O'Flynn said.

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

More than 250 protesters braved wet weather yesterday on the final day of the summit.

Green MP Gareth Hughes described the weather as "positively vile".

"It's a cold wet day and we've still got more than 250 people here showing their opposition to Anadarko and risky deep-sea drilling, and they [Anadarko] can expect further opposition in the future," he said.

Initially, it was intended to send people in boats to block the shipping lane between Quarantine Island and Goat Island.

But the weather forced some to hold anti-drilling banners on a wharf at Back Beach, in Port Chalmers, while others took to the water in kayaks.

Ms O'Flynn said the action was a practice run for future action when Anadarko vessels arrived in Otago.

Related articles

New Zealand|Politics

Oil-drilling support slipping - poll

03 Jan 11:41 PM
Business

Warning over Great South Basin drill

07 Jan 03:15 AM
Business

Cities race to be oil and gas base

08 Jan 09:53 PM
Business

'Economic boom' if southern gas found

08 Jan 08:44 PM

Port Otago chief executive Geoff Plunket declined to comment on the proposed protest action.

However, Senior Sergeant Steve Aitken, of Dunedin, was concerned about the safety of the protesters.

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

"While everyone has the right to protest, they need to consider the safety of themselves and any other people while they are doing it.

"Protesting at sea can be dangerous and I would encourage those participating to ensure they take all safety precautions."

The summit was the first of its kind in New Zealand, and coincided with Anadarko's exploratory deep-sea drilling off the coast of Raglan.

Anadarko's drill ship Noble Bob Douglas was preparing to move south next month where it will begin drilling, 60km from Taiaroa Head.

The summit heard speeches on Saturday from about 16 people, including Mr Hughes, photo journalist John Wathen, who photographed the Gulf of Mexico disaster, Dunedin city councillor Jinty MacTavish, and University of Otago energy studies director and physics professor Bob Lloyd.

During the conference, it was revealed the Dunedin City Council held shares in petroleum companies, worth $1.7 million.

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

The investments account for about 5 percent of the council's holdings through the Waipori Fund.

Ms O'Flynn and Mr Hughes said the council should not hold shares in any company that produces fossil fuels, in the same way it avoids investing in tobacco and arms companies, and urged the council to divest its investments in oil companies.

Dunedin Mayor Dave Cull defended the investments, saying they were designed to make a return for the benefit of ratepayers.

Councillor MacTavish said the council did not have a formal stance on ethical investment - only that it did not invest in tobacco or arms companies.

"This is an opportunity for us as a community to have a conversation about what we collectively feel comfortable making money from.

"It is important to have this conversation."

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

She said a report had been commissioned into ethical investment opportunities, and it would be discussed by council later this month.

"My personal feeling is that I'm not very comfortable with investing in further fossil fuel exploration.

"I would prefer us to be invested in much more future-focused industry," she said.

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Business

Premium
Business

What lies ahead for Genesis Energy after profit lift?

19 Aug 05:45 AM
Premium
Business

Should the All Blacks wear black? And the other no-brainer for Air NZ's Greg Foran

19 Aug 05:43 AM
Premium
Business

Adrian Orr accepts mortgage rates could fall next year

19 Aug 05:40 AM
Premium
Business

Market close: F&P Healthcare drags market down

19 Aug 05:37 AM
Premium
Business

NZ headed for recession in 2023, but inflation to fall fast - BNZ

19 Aug 05:34 AM

Most Popular

Ombudsman sends PM 'please explain' over Sharma allegations
New Zealand|PoliticsUpdated

Ombudsman sends PM 'please explain' over Sharma allegations

19 Aug 07:04 AM
Kawhia shooting: Mum haunted by frightening escape into darkness with children
New Zealand|CrimeUpdated

Kawhia shooting: Mum haunted by frightening escape into darkness with children

19 Aug 04:04 AM
Premium
Cecilia Robinson rejoins My Food Bag board amid 'deeply disappointing' share price
Business

Cecilia Robinson rejoins My Food Bag board amid 'deeply disappointing' share price

19 Aug 05:32 AM

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.
About NZMEHelp & SupportContact UsSubscribe to NZ HeraldHouse Rules
Manage Your Print SubscriptionNZ Herald E-EditionAdvertise with NZMEBook Your AdPrivacy Policy
Terms of UseCompetition Terms & ConditionsSubscriptions Terms & Conditions
© Copyright 2022 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP