Bridges' speech disrupted

Greenpeace activists disrupted Energy Minister – and National MP for Tauranga – Simon Bridges' opening speech at the Petroleum Summit in Auckland yesterday.

Seven activists, displaying banners which read ‘No deep sea oil' and ‘Stop Statoil', forced a delay as the Minister spoke to around 400 oil industry representatives.

MP for Tauranga Simon Bridges

The activists reportedly gained access via fake conference credentials, and were removed by security.

Simon acknowledged the activists' right to express their views, but stated that overseas oil explorers at the conference were unlikely to be deterred by the actions of the seven.

Norwegian oil giant Statoil has been granted a 15-year exploration permit for the Northland basin, which lies off the coast of Ahipara beach.

Statoil is also a partial sponsor of the Petroleum Summit.

Greenpeace NZ chief political advisor Nathan Argent says Kiwis don't want Statoil 'risking our beaches and economy” off New Zealand's coastline.

He says: 'According to a Colmar Brunton survey just a few weeks before the election, more than two thirds of Kiwis think the government should invest taxpayers' money in building an economy that's based on clean energy industries.”

However, during his speech yesterday, Simon said: 'New Zealand has a long, proud history of petroleum exploration and development, and the last 3 years have built strongly on those foundations.

'There is still, however, much potential to understand and tap, and that requires ongoing confidence to invest and a continued commitment to excellence.”

Around 1000 people marched through Auckland earlier this week to speak out against Statoil's deep sea oil drilling plans.

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6 comments

Greenpeace Annoys the H out of me

Posted on 02-10-2014 08:38 | By tabatha

What annoys me about this organisation is every time they open their mouth they speak as if they represent me when in fact i will never give them the authority to speak on my behalf. I suspect, note suspect, that there are many other people like me who do not agree with all their statements and hence also get annoyed or say b...... r them. Please Greenpeace speak for Greenpeace.


greenpeace

Posted on 02-10-2014 10:12 | By phoenix

well said tabatha


Hypocrites

Posted on 02-10-2014 11:03 | By euanme3

Greenpeace must be the biggest collective of hypocrites I know. Undoubtedly they all drove there, all use products that require petrochemicals for their manufacture etc etc. They just have the whole "not in my back yard" mentality. Go away.


hmmm

Posted on 02-10-2014 12:10 | By Blessed

Although i do not like the way Greenpeace go about things, there is No denying the Positive outcome they have had in there campaigns and they are drawing attention to things We NEED to fix/address in this world, we rely to heavily on Oil, and things produced by Oil, which are effecting our Environment. 'According to a Colmar Brunton survey just a few weeks before the election, more than two thirds of Kiwis think the government should invest taxpayers' money in building an economy that's based on clean energy industries.” If they find more Oil here, WHAT will we as Kiwis get from it? They say Jobs, How many? and for who? Will it really be worth it??


Evil Greenpeace

Posted on 02-10-2014 13:20 | By Paul Melhuish

Yeah, how dare Greenpeace express their concerns for the environment. Unbelievable! Can't they just let everyone get on with exploiting it. Sheesh, how inconsiderate.


Useless Simon

Posted on 02-10-2014 14:14 | By dgk

I hate it when Simon Bridges speaks as if he is speaking for all of us. We don't have a proud history, and he knows it. Simon only speaks for Simon, and no-one else.


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