FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 14/11/2016 2:35 PM
Te Ikaroa – Defending Our Waters Press Release
SEISMIC TESTING PRESENTS SIGNIFICANT RISK TO EAST COAST
Anti-seismic-testing campaign group Te Ikaroa are calling upon the government to immediately halt all seismic testing
along the eastern seaboard, on the heels of this morning’s 7.5 earthquake in Canterbury.
A peace flotilla in the Wellington harbour yesterday was organised by Oil Free Wellington in protest to the arrival of
the world’s largest seismic testing vessel, The Amazon Warrior. The vessel, here to commence seismic testing for oil
along the eastern seaboard, is currently unable to enter Wellington harbour due to significant structural quake damage
at the port.
“Te Ikaroa are first and foremost concerned for the wellbeing of whānau along the eastern seaboard who are in fear of
their own wellbeing and that of their whanau. In particular we extend our deepest sympathies to those who are grieving
the loss of their loved ones in Kaikoura and Mount Lyford” says Tina Ngata, environmentalist and Te Ikaroa campaigner.
“This morning’s earthquake has demonstrated the seismic vulnerability of the eastern seaboard of Aotearoa. Here on the
East Coast, we are close to the Hikurangi tectonic plate boundary which lies just off the coast. This is the boundary
between the Australian plate and the Pacific plate, and it is constantly shifting. Some of the very best scientists in
our country, including the government’s lead geologists, have noted the seismic vulnerability of this region. To
heighten the risk of a seismic event by seismic blasting along this plate boundary defies all common sense – especially
while we are still experiencing aftershocks. The last thing we need right now is for another event to be triggered
through seismic testing. We are calling upon John Key to demonstrate his concern for the wellbeing of the communities
along the eastern seaboard by immediately halting all seismic testing pending a review of the current level of risk.”
The Amazon Warrior is due to commence imminent seismic testing for oil on behalf of Norwegian Oil giant Statoil. Seismic
testing involves the dragging of a seismic airgun along the seabed, emitting seismic blasts every 10 seconds, 24 hours a
day, from now until next May. Statoil acquired their permit from American multinational oil corporation Chevron, and the
permit extends along the eastern seaboard and to depths that are unprecedented for New Zealand. Seismic blasting has
been proven to be disruptive and harmful to sea life, including marine mammals, and is opposed by coastal fishing
interests and eco-tourism operators including Ngāi Tahu’s Whale Watch ventures.
Earlier this month, a petition was launched demanding that the Norwegian government, who hold the majority of shares for
Statoil, withdraw the testing vessel from these waterways and denying consent for Statoil’s exploratory activities. The
petition has been endorsed by over 60 hapu and iwi groups along the eastern seaboard, from the top of the South Island
up to the East Cape of the North Island, and more are endorsing the call by the day.
“Hapu and iwi are very concerned about the impacts of seismic testing and seabed mining - and this is why many of them
opposed the oil block offer in the first place” says Ms Ngata. “It’s appalling that government ignored the significant
formal opposition to the block offer and are allowing this very risky practice to go ahead. We are concerned not only
for the impacts of seismic testing and drilling upon quake vulnerability but also for the impacts that seismic testing
has proven to have upon sea mammals, fish populations and delicate marine ecosystems. We’re also extremely concerned
thatMaritime New Zealand has no vessels that can clean up a spill at the proposed depth, so a spill would have
devastating results.” Further protests took place in Napier yesterday, where crowds gathered to voice their opposition
to the activity. Event organiser Erena Tomoana noted that traditional ocean voyagers, hapu leaders and local community
members turned out in force to express strong objections to the presence of Statoil and Chevron.
The petition launched by Te Ikaroa also invites support signatures from the broader New Zealand public, and has thus far
collected nearly 1000 signatures from across New Zealand. The online petition can be signed at: https://www.toko.org.nz/petitions/norway-statoil-is-not-welcome-in-our-waters