The Government Should Immediately Stop the Obstruction of Petrobras

Chris Baker, CEO, Straterra

The Petrobras affair is unfolding in extra-ordinary fashion in the media. Amid strong protests at sea, the Government is dilly-dallying over whether or not to intervene.

At issue is a petroleum company exercising a government permit, which it paid for, to carry out a seismic survey of waters off the North Island’s East Coast. It is being prevented from doing so by protesters, in petroleum-driven boats, many of them representing Greenpeace NZ and the local iwi, Te Whanau a Apanui.

The Government is struggling to draw the line between upholding the lawful right of protest and upholding the right of a lawful business not to have costs imposed on it through violent action.

Yes, the protests are violent because they arbitrarily impose costs on another - almost to the point of blackmail. Greenpeace’s Steve Abel said on National Radio on 12 April: “We don’t support their activities and wish them to cease,” and in answer to the interviewer’s question if they would keep going, he said: “That’s our intention until they do all of those things.” Mr Abel has decided he is the judge and jury in this case, in the belief he has a popular mandate.

One may debate whether the protesters should be held accountable for their actions, or whether the protesters, some of them at least, are justified in their belief their rights have been trampled on without consultation. Both local iwi were consulted prior to the permit being awarded.

But there is a bigger issue that should concern the Government and all New Zealanders. If it is fine to obstruct a petroleum company going about its business, then presumably it is fine to prevent commercial fishers hauling in their catch, marine farmers collecting their mussels, dairy farmers from milking, in short, to obstruct any lawful business without sanction.

If the Government does nothing to protect Petrobras from incurring more than $1 million a week in unrecoverable costs, it is delivering a clear message to the nation - that it is lawful to sabotage our economy. It is also delivering a clear message to potential investors, a message that will simply result in less investment.

The potential economic consequences of inaction over the Petrobras affair are serious. New Zealand has significant resource potential offshore: oil and gas, iron sands, phosphates, methane hydrates, to name a few, and perhaps many others we are not yet aware of. We are not alone in this however, and we need to be attractive for this type of investment. For this reason, how we manage this issue is important.

I accept there are legitimate concerns in New Zealand about petroleum development, and offshore resource development, but the Government is actively addressing these, with public input.

It is reviewing our systems for managing the risk of and dealing with oil spills. It intends to introduce environmental legislation for the Exclusive Economic Zone this year. It is considering a Waitangi Tribunal report on improving the Crown petroleum regime to take better account of iwi interests. It is active internationally and domestically on the response to climate change issues.

It would be difficult to identify anything more the Government could or should do in this area. Nor is there any hurry. The nation has plenty of time to resolve all of these issues because there will be ample lead time should we be fortunate enough for Petrobras to want to drill an exploration well or wells as a result of the work they are now doing.

Surely, in a civilised society the right thing to do is to work with our Government in defining and achieving objectives for the nation’s benefit. The Government has taken the first step: it has identified for action the issues of concern to the environmental movement and iwi. Instead of vilifying Petrobras, an innocent bystander in New Zealand resource debates, Greenpeace NZ and Te Whanau a Apanui might draw lessons from, for example, the Environmental Defence Society who are working actively with the Government on freshwater and oceans governance, and who are convening a conference this year on coastal issues.

I believe the protesters should immediately cease their interference with a lawful business, and apologise to Petrobras. They should also apologise to the people of New Zealand for putting the future of our economy at risk.

If the protesters continue to hold Petrobras and the country to ransom, the Government needs to intervene.

ENDS

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