Audit Taranaki Regional Council's regulation of oil and gas activities

The issue

We have concerns with poor regulating and monitoring of drill sites, production stations, fracking operations and landfarms in the Taranaki region. This insufficient protection of the environment and community has placed families, workers, wildlife, stock and our farming and fishing economy at considerable risk both historically and now. We believe TRC has been derelict in their duties as regulators by not ensuring regular appropriate scientific testing and compliance with consents.

This petition had 403 supporters

The issue

We have concerns with poor regulating and monitoring of drill sites, production stations, fracking operations and landfarms in the Taranaki region. This insufficient protection of the environment and community has placed families, workers, wildlife, stock and our farming and fishing economy at considerable risk both historically and now. We believe TRC has been derelict in their duties as regulators by not ensuring regular appropriate scientific testing and compliance with consents.

The Decision Makers

Lyn Provost
Lyn Provost
The Auditor General of New Zealand
Responded
Please note that the Office of the Auditor-General announced on August 31 that it will not inquire into this matter. As the public sector auditor, the Office focuses on financial, governance, management, and organisational issues. (http://www.oag.govt.nz/media/2012/fracking-operations-in-taranaki) The concerns raised in this petition are predominantly environmental. The Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment has the technical knowledge and legislative mandate to conduct inquiries on such issues and in March 2012, announced an official investigation into fracking in New Zealand. (http://www.pce.parliament.nz/media/media-releases/pce-to-investigate-fracking/)

Petition Updates