oil Archive

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  Key in Brazil wooing Petrobras - by Gareth Hughes

  
  
  
  Never one to turn down an opportunity to welcome a foreign oil company to drill in 100% Pure New Zealand’s waters, John Key currently in Brazil, is encouraging the Brazilian company Petrobras to return. read more
  March 12, 2013 3:31 pm - 6 Comments
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  New South Wales Government acts on oil and gas concerns - by Gareth Hughes

  
  
  
  The New South Wales government has announced a ban on all coal seam gas development within two kilometres of residential areas and industry clusters, such as horse breeders and wine producers, across the state. What can we learn from it in New Zealand? read more
  February 20, 2013 1:23 pm - 45 Comments
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  What is New Zealand’s best beach? - by Gareth Hughes

  
  
  
  Summer in Aotearoa means sun, sand, BBQs and beaches. But the beaches we love are under threat from deep sea oil drilling. Vote for your favourite beach to find out more. read more
  December 22, 2012 7:22 pm - 23 Comments
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  Fracking report is a red flag not a green light for new fracking wells - by Gareth Hughes

  
  
  
  The Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment’s interim report on fracking entitled, “Evaluating the environmental impacts of fracking in New Zealand” was tabled today in Parliament. read more
  November 27, 2012 5:43 pm - 55 Comments
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  Joyce shows Government foolish on biofuels - by Gareth Hughes

  
  
  
  Anyone else nearly choke on their Weet-Bix this morning listening to Steven Joyce on Morning Report? read more
  September 11, 2012 9:19 pm - 19 Comments
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  More fracking good news - by Gareth Hughes

  
  
  
  Two positive developments out of the Hawkes Bay this week: Hastings District council has voted unanimously to take a precautionary approach when it comes to fracking, and a whānau has ‘locked their gates’ barring Tag Oil from fracking on their land; resulting in TAG Oil backing away from the proposed exploratory fracking well in the area. read more
  June 8, 2012 2:41 pm - 38 Comments
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  State owned enterprises shouldn’t be fracking - by Gareth Hughes

  
  
  
  Stuff reports that Solid Energy says it has discovered significant coal seam gas reserves in Taranaki, and acknowledges that it could face opposition from environmentalists if the methane gas is extracted using hydraulic fracturing – or fracking. It would be reckless for Solid Energy to commence fracking for coal seam gas given numerous overseas studies which have linked fracking to drinking water contamination, human health problems and earthquakes. read more
  May 31, 2012 1:12 pm - 2 Comments
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  EEZ Bill makes risky deep-sea drilling E-Z - by Gareth Hughes

  
  
  
  Today the Exclusive Economic Zone and Continental Shelf (Economic Effects) Bill (EEZ BILL) was reported back from the Local Government and Environment Select Committee. The bill regulates activities like drilling for oil and gas in the EEZ plugging a huge legislative and regulatory gap that the Greens have called for action on for years. It’s [...] read more
  May 15, 2012 4:46 pm - 1 Comment
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  Fracking earthquakes - by Gareth Hughes

  
  
  
  A new report was released this week by the UK’s Department of Energy and Climate Change which confirmed that two earthquakes in the Blackpool area were caused by fracking. Along with a US Geological Survey report out last week it shows scientifically there is a link between fracking and human-induced earthquakes that should concern seismically-active New Zealand. read more
  April 19, 2012 1:06 pm - 67 Comments
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  Mining our future - by Gareth Hughes

  
  
  
  I’m hitting the road with Catherine Delahunty on the Mining our Future tour. We’ll be travelling New Zealand over the coming weeks setting out the Government’s broad “drill it, mine it” agenda. We are starting with the big centres then will tour the provincial areas most affected by drilling and mining. read more
  April 10, 2012 4:24 pm - 3 Comments
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  Lucy Lawless and Greenpeace take action against Arctic oil drilling - by Gareth Hughes

  
  
  
  Lucy Lawless, the ‘warrior princess’ and Greenpeace activists have boarded a drilling rig in Taranaki to stop it sailing to the Arctic to commence an exploratory oil drilling programme. What do you think? read more
  February 24, 2012 9:55 am - 39 Comments
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  The best way to oil independence is to provide alternatives and use less - by Gareth Hughes

  
  
  
  The Ministry of Economic Development’s Briefing to the incoming Energy Minister predicts New Zealand could become a net exporter of petroleum by 2030 if new oil fields are developed. It’s a laudable goal to reduce our expensive dependence on foreign oil but it would be a lot smarter to invest in alternatives like better public transport, renewable electricity and sustainable alternative fuels. read more
  February 3, 2012 10:14 am - 31 Comments
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  Rena Oil Spill Day 12 - by Catherine Delahunty

  
  
  
  Midday at Papamoa Beach Surf Club and the free sausage sizzle is competing with the donated cakes stall. A motley group of citizens is broken up into ten people clusters and decked out in the white overalls and blue rubber gloves. With spades and rakes we are packed off down the beach to start cleaning [...] read more
  October 17, 2011 11:17 am - 8 Comments
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  Government slow to act on Rena highlights oil drilling risks - by Gareth Hughes

  
  
  
  As oil hits the shore I’d like to salute the hundreds of people working very hard to contain the spill and volunteers registering to clean up the beaches. It’s a deeply worrying situation especially with a severe weather warning issued. The Government and petroleum industry have gone on the defensive over the speed of the [...] read more
  October 10, 2011 4:27 pm - 22 Comments
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  A precautionary tale - by David Clendon

  
  
  
  Following is an extract from Hansard, recording an exchange I had with energy Minister Hekia Parata back in April.  The question was asked at a time when iwi, hapu, environmental groups and others were trying to persuade the government that issuing permits for deep water drilling is a bad idea. David Clendon: What is the [...] read more
  October 10, 2011 9:52 am - 9 Comments
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  Frack No! Sign the Petition - by David Clendon

  
  
  
  A lot of New Zealanders  have not yet heard about hydraulic fracturing (fracking), but many of those who do know something about it are worried, and rightly so! The technique is used to extract ‘unconventional’ oil and gas – that’s industry speak for sources of hydrocarbons that until recently were deemed too expensive or difficult to [...] read more
  September 29, 2011 11:01 am - 16 Comments
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  Boom times for oil and gas? - by David Clendon

  
  
  
  This morning’s  Dominion article about ‘boom times’ for the gas and oil exploration industry is an intriguing, even slightly funny, mix of boosterism, drum beating and dissimulation. The Chair of PEPANZ appears almost breathless with excitement as he seeks to fulfil the primary objective of his organisation, “to publicise, promote and advance the interests of [...] read more
  September 7, 2011 9:59 am - 6 Comments
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  How many jobs will oil and gas bring NZ? - by Kennedy Graham

  
  
  
  On Tuesday the Government released the final version of its backwards-looking energy strategy. Of passing note is the removal of any overt reference to lignite coal.  Of course bioenergy could be code for it, or ‘alternative transport fuels’ (the Energy Outlook 2010 specifically cites lignite diesel as an alternative transport fuel with potential.) But basically [...] read more
  September 1, 2011 12:30 pm - 24 Comments
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  World Oceans Day - by Gareth Hughes

  
  
  
  I recently learned to scuba dive at the Taputeranga Marine Reserve on Wellington’s wild South coast which has given me a whole new appreciation of our marine environment. In contrast to outside the marine reserve, life is flourishing with an abundance of fish, crabs and crayfish. We are so lucky to have places like Taputeranga [...] read more
  June 8, 2011 8:57 pm - 10 Comments
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  Conservation week – under the sea - by Kevin Hague

  
  
  
  I live on an island close to the sea. The opening lyrics of Jess Chambers memorable song Island which featured in our 2008 election campaign will ring true with many. Our coastline features heavily in our recreational opportunities. Many of us yearn for a sunny day at the beach under a deep blue sky or [...] read more
  September 15, 2010 5:14 pm - 3 Comments
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  Another day, another oil platform explosion - by frog

  
  
  
  Another oil platform off the Louisiana coast has experienced an explosion and fire. Fortunately, no lives were lost and earlier reports of a mile long slick have been recanted. read more
  September 3, 2010 11:27 am - 9 Comments
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  Oil spill deja vu - by frog

  
  
  
  Rachel Maddow has done a superlative job of pointing out the eerie deja vu that is this year’s Gulf of Mexico and Alaskan oil spills. read more
  July 15, 2010 2:25 pm - 11 Comments
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  How often does oil get spilled? - by frog

  
  
  
  Everyone is watching the gulf of Mexico with horror after the Deepwater Horizon spill, a spill that started in April and just keeps on giving. Meanwhile, we keep hearing platitudes about how rare this sort of thing is and how safe oil drilling really is. But is it? read more
  July 12, 2010 11:18 am - 13 Comments
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  Has Brownlee broken the law? - by David Clendon

  
  
  
  Who owns the oil in our Exclusive Economic Zone? What is at stake is quite significant. Crown Minerals testified to the Waitangi Tribunal in April that the Minister had failed to investigate Te Aupouri’s claim and also confirmed that this might be a violation of international law and the Treaty of Waitangi. read more
  July 8, 2010 2:31 pm - 35 Comments
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  How bad could the BP spill get? - by frog

  
  
  
  I have asked myself this question repeatedly over the last month or so, as things in the Gulf of Mexico seem to be going from bad to worse. read more
  June 15, 2010 3:31 pm - 29 Comments
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  Finally, an answer - by frog

  
  
  
  Geniuses at Oil Sciences have come up with a novel idea about how to stop the millions of barrels of oil from billowing into to Gulf of Mexico. And, you guessed it, they’ve put it up for sale to the highest bidder on Trade Me. read more
  June 14, 2010 10:37 pm - 11 Comments
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  Visualising the BP oil disaster - by frog

  
  
  
  Use this handy tool to compare the size of the BP oil spill by placing an overlay on top of where you live: Needless to say, if a spill that spanned from the East Cape to Taranaki happened here, we would not cope well. Maritime New Zealand has just $12 million worth of oil spill [...] read more
  June 8, 2010 1:02 pm - 47 Comments
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  A message from Sarah Palin to you and me - by frog

  
  
  
  Sarah Palin never fails to warm the cockles of my heart. From her ever endearing wink to her seemingly clueless nature she always, always brings a smile to my face. read more
  June 3, 2010 10:13 am - 9 Comments
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  Petrobras comes to NZ - by frog

  
  
  
  It seemed strange to have Minister Brownlee fawning all over Russel Norman during question time in the House yesterday, eager to stress how much he cares about oil drilling safety. read more
  June 2, 2010 1:51 pm - 44 Comments
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  Oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico – link collection - by frog

  
  
  
  A major environmental and economic catastrophe has been unfolding in the Gulf of Mexico for about a week. No one knows how much oil is being leaked or for how long it will leak. It’s Sunday evening so I’m just going to brain-dump the links I’ve been reading this evening and come back to it [...] read more
  May 2, 2010 10:03 pm - 39 Comments
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  Thoughts on the IEA’s World Energy Outlook 2009 - by frog

  
  
  
  The latest from the IEA is hot of the press. I’m curious to see what they have to say this time around, because their stance on oil supplies has shifted quite a lot recently. They used to believe oil supplies would last for a long long time, but are now saying 2020 will be the [...] read more
  November 11, 2009 4:21 pm - 10 Comments
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  How would you like one of these in Doubtful Sound? - by frog

  
  
  
  This oil rig has been spewing oil into the sea for eight weeks. Eight! At 400 barrels per day! The company at the centre of the oil spill, PTTEP Australasia, will have its third attempt at intercepting and plugging the leak tomorrow. Good luck guys! Look out for whatever’s causing that big plume of smoke! [...] read more
  October 21, 2009 5:22 pm - 4 Comments
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  NZ Govt risks apostrophe war in archipelago - by frog

  
  
  
  Someone wise once said that the word is more powerful than the sword, and today’s Government statement could be seen as a desperate and venal attempt by the New Zealand Government to provoke Indonesia. read more
  October 18, 2009 5:39 pm - 12 Comments
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  Procurement: which costs are saved? - by frog

  
  
  
  The Government has just announced it is to review and reform state sector procurement. The Government Procurement Reform Agenda is based around four key themes: ·         Cost savings. ·         Building procurement capability and capacity. ·         Enhanced business participation. ·         Improved governance, oversight and accountability. Cost savings:  just to the Government’s expenditure or also saving costs [...] read more
  June 11, 2009 11:55 am - 4 Comments
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  General Debate, June 4, 2009 - by frog

  
  
  
  Serious allegations swirl around the head of a fallen National Party Minister. The healthy food in schools debate runs hot, but civil on a highjacked thread. Oil hovers in the mid-sixties, a harbinger, if my earlier predictions were correct, of the beginning of an economic recovery, at least as the growth-worshippers measure it. Your thoughts [...] read more
  June 4, 2009 9:22 am - 21 Comments
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  Hasta la pasta! - by frog

  
  
  
  Biogas from municipal waste is the Stockholm transport authority’s preferred fuel for the future of buses in their city. They’re aiming for a carbon neutral public transport system by 2025. It featured in a recent advertising campaign on the buses, billed “Thanks for the Food”, which said: Thank you for eating cannelloni and gravadlax last [...] read more
  May 14, 2009 3:00 pm - 7 Comments
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  Scientific Megalomania? - by Catherine Delahunty

  
  
  
  The Education and Science Select Committee carries out financial reviews of Crown Research institutes which is a fascinating process, not so much the glossy balance sheets but reading between the lines. We also get to speak with the heads of these bodies and ask questions about the work. Yesterday we meet with Geological and Nuclear [...] read more
  May 1, 2009 9:40 am - 21 Comments
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  Powering our farms with sunshine not oil - by frog

  
  
  
  Graham Harvey, the author of The Carbon Fields, has a good opinion piece here, where he talks about our lack of food security: Our food supply is now more dependent on globally traded grains than at any time in our history. This makes it inherently unstable and vulnerable to the kind of catastrophic meltdown that [...] read more
  November 5, 2008 3:06 pm - 15 Comments
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  The big Oil Crunch within five years - by frog

  
  
  
  A report released last week says the crunch will be upon us very soon, and Shell oil agrees. From the Guardian: The report was issued today by the recently established UK industry taskforce on peak oil and energy security, a group of eight companies including transport firms Virgin, Stagecoach and FirstGroup, engineers Arup, architects Foster [...] read more
  November 4, 2008 10:54 am - 46 Comments
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  IEA´s unnaproved draft oil report - by frog

  
  
  
  For those who follow the oil game, the IEA´s announcement last May that their complete review of the world oil supply situation wouldn´t come out until the week after the US Presidential election came as no surprise. The last thing that any American administration would want to do is spook the markets just prior to [...] read more
  October 30, 2008 10:31 am - 17 Comments