Date: September 18th 2013

Oil and gas exploration symposium in Hastings

A symposium on oil and gas exploration in Hawke’s Bay is to be held at the Hawke’s Bay Opera House early next month.

The seminar will be chaired by Hastings Mayor Lawrence Yule with a wide range of guest speakers to present information on the issues that surround possible oil and gas exploration in Hawke’s Bay.

Mr Yule says “It is absolutely vital that a complete picture of the issues relating to oil and gas exploration is presented to the public. I believe this is a case where Hastings District Council can take a leadership role in helping the public become more knowledgeable about the advantages and risks associated with oil and gas exploration.”

“Public education must continue and we will invite industry players, community leaders and representatives from the environmental sector to present at the seminar, to ensure that all aspects of the subject are fairly represented. The seminar will run along similar lines to the recent, successful symposium on GMO which was facilitated by Council.”

Lawrence Yule says the aim of the seminar is to provide balanced information and allow the attendees to gain valuable knowledge of the challenges and solutions to issues that surround oil and gas exploration in Hawke’s Bay. He says “Now is the time to become informed and get involved.”

Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment Dr Jan Wright has confirmed that she will present at the symposium.

Dr Wright was sworn in as Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment for a five-year term in 2007 and reappointed for a second term in early 2012. She has a Physics degree from Canterbury University, a Masters degree in Energy and Resources from Berkeley in California, and a PhD in Public Policy from Harvard. Prior to her current role, Jan worked as an independent policy and economic consultant for many different government agencies and as a member of various Crown Entity Boards.

Other presenters will be confirmed prior to the symposium.

The symposium on oil and gas exploration in Hawke’s Bay will be held at the Hawke’s Bay Opera House on Friday October 11th between 9.30am and 4pm.

To give the organisers an idea of the number of people who are likely to attend the symposium, it is important that you register at www.hastingsdc.govt.nz/symposium

ENDS

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