Press Release Oil Free Wellington

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

"The government should not be giving oil and gas companies extra wriggle room to keep the possibility of further oil and gas exploration open," says Oil Free Wellington spokesperson James Barber.

Despite beginning the process of banning new offshore oil and gas exploration permits the Minister Megan Woods is giving companies, which already hold tens of thousands of square kilometres in existing permits, further wriggle room to keep them.

At the moment, oil and gas companies like OMV and NZOG must commit to a timetable of exploration when they are granted a permit. It they are unable to meet this timetable, they must hand the permit back.

"Oil and gas companies will always put profit ahead of people and the planet."

"The government needs to work towards a just transition towards a sustainable and fair society. One of the first steps towards this is ending all fossil fuel mining and exploration - not extend the window for more drilling."

"To avoid catastrophic climate change we cannot burn all the fossil fuels which have already been found. We definitely should not be allowing companies to explore for more."

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