Eco-busybodies cost us all

Protesters clinging to large buoys in the ocean and swimming in front of an oil exploration ship to divert its course were the most dramatic scenes on TV this week. Parliament - in urgency to pass earthquake recovery legislation - couldn’t compete despite controversy around some of the other bills on the order paper.

MPs debated day and night the setting up of the Christchurch Earthquake Recovery Authority, copyright infringement issues on the internet and changes to legal aid. Meanwhile, out at sea off the North Island’s East Cape, a saga also of considerable importance to the country was unfolding. From their flotilla of five vessels Greenpeace and iwi protestors physically placed themselves in front of the Brazilian energy company Petrobras’ ship the Orient Explorer in an attempt to stop seismic surveying of the Raukumara Basin area.

Petrobras was awarded a five year permit last June, worth NZ$151m, to explore the area and this is the first seismic survey to be undertaken. The survey is worth US$5 million, a second will cost US$7m and if this progresses further the drilling of a well would cost US$106m after a further consenting process was complete and approved.

Petrobras must be wondering what they had struck, especially after an Air Force Orion and a Navy Inshore Patrol Vessel (IPV) Pukaki were called in to assist police with monitoring the situation. From the Pukaki’s rigid hull inflatable boats police officers issued the protest boat skippers with maritime notices requiring the flotilla to remain 200m away from the Orient Explorer and her support ship, the Orient Pioneer.

Public opinion has been overwhelmingly against the Greenpeace/Iwi protests. Government sanctioned involvement by the police and military to monitor the harassment of Petrobras by the Greenpeace organised flotilla has been predictably criticised by environmental groups and iwi alike but it has the support of the public.

For too long, we have as a country rolled over in the face of campaigns orchestrated by environmental groups such as Greenpeace. By doing nothing New Zealand just further surrenders its national interests to un-elected, unaccountable, Non-Government Organisations (NGOs).

In the last week, the media has done double-flips over why Australia is surging ahead of New Zealand economically. The answer is simple: Australia is confident enough to tap into the valuable mineral resources it has and sell them to the world. It does not allow its national interests to be hijacked by environmentalists. So why are we?

Seismic testing is the first step in determining whether there may be energy reserves beneath a particular part of the seafloor. This is not drilling, but if the testing shows the possibility of oil, then exploratory drilling can be conducted. Petrobras is a long way from that.

The last thing New Zealand needs is for Petrobras, or any other company, to think that doing business in New Zealand is too difficult and pull out. If a company cannot complete a harmless seismic survey, why would it even contemplate drilling if a large oil reserve is found?

The orchestrated campaigns of these environmental groups against mining on land scared the National Party into reversing its policy to prospect schedule Four conservation land. It was the wrong decision in my view. That flip flop now impedes reasoned debate on mining and oil exploration on land, whether it be owned by the Crown or privately.

Greenpeace is a wealthy multinational organisation. It has hundreds of millions of dollars at its disposal which it uses to sell “concern for the environment”. There’s nothing wrong with that and it can add significantly to the debate. But if this “concern for the environment” thwarts the generation of wealth, it is the poorest in society who are worst affected.

Let’s not forget that if the Petrobras seismic survey does reveal valuable deposits of oil or gas it is the local region that will benefit most from investment and development, from job creation, from incomes earned, and the country as a whole will benefit from the royalty regime.

Despite their rhetoric, Greenpeace and their climate campaigner Steve Abel do not speak for Kiwis. I have been approached by many people, read hundreds of online comments and listened to days of talkback commentary that show there is strong feeling that Greenpeace should be stopped in these eco-attacks. The country must push back against these protest groups and government needs to develop sensible energy policies that are both economically and environmentally viable. The combination is not only possible, our future wealth as a nation depends on it.

Lest We Forget – New Zealand Defence Service Medal (NZDSM)

Yesterday at parliament the first presentation ceremony for the Government’s newly established military medal, the NZDSM, was made to a selected group of ex-Service personnel. This completes a prolonged period of campaigning by the RSA and other ex-military groups for recognition of those who have served their country but were not deployed. The medal will be worn with pride by recipients at this month’s ANZAC Day parades.

Those eligible for the NZDSM are all those who have served in the military for more than three years since WWII (regular and territorial force) and those who completed Compulsory Military Training or National Military Service. Estimates are that around 160,000 people are eligible. Applications for over 70 year old ex-service personnel will be received first, followed by over 60 year olds, then other ex-service personnel and those still serving. Further information can be found at medals.nzdf.mil.nz including a photo of the NZDSM and how to apply.

ENDS

© Scoop Media