February 27 2014
Government Announcement Shameful and Undemocratic
Oil Free Otago is calling the government’s announcement that oil and gas exploration be non-notifiable as “shameful and
undemocratic.” “This is yet another example of the government and its so-called Environment Protection Agency cow-towing
to foreign oil giants instead of protecting New Zealanders’ interests,” said Niamh O’Flynn, spokesperson for Oil Free
Otago.
"First the government create the Anadarko amendment to limit our ability to protest oil exploration at sea, now they
have made the exploration non-notifiable, taking away our ability to have our say through the formal process. Clearly
they are worried that what the people want is not what they and the oil industry want," said Ms O'Flynn,
"Deep sea drilling opposition is a strong, growing, nation-wide movement. It's time for the government to represent
people, not industry, and begin the transition to the clean energy future that Kiwis are demanding."