Deepwater Horizon

• The permit was eventually granted because the application was lodged just before the government’s 2018 offshore exploration ban was in place.
• The High Court ruled it should therefore have been considered under the previous system.
• Between 2008 and 2017, Aotearoa New Zealand’s offshore environment was opened up for further oil and gas exploration on the promise of economic growth and energy independence.

Deep Water Horizon and the Rena

• Read more:
  The Bay of Plenty oil spill: loading the dice against disaster

  First, the Rena disaster occurred in Tauranga, off the east coast of the North Island.

• The Rena was a container ship that ran aground on the Ōtāiti/Astrolabe reef in October 2011 while on its way into Tauranga Harbour.
• The second event, the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, sensitised the public to the risks of offshore oil extraction.

Petrobras and the Raukūmara Basin

• Petrobras had secured a five-year permit to explore for oil and gas under block offers released in 2010.
• Nevertheless, Petrobras informed Te Whānau-ā-Apanui that they would begin their seismic survey work in early 2011 and began work in April using the large survey vessel, the Orient Explorer.
• Read more:
  Why New Zealand should not explore for more natural gas reserves

  Opposition to Petrobras began quickly both onshore and offshore, demanding “no drill, no spill”.

The ‘Andarko amendment’

• It was also a silent partner to the Deep Water Horizon rig responsible for the massive spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
• The Minister for Energy and Resources at the time said the protesters shouldn’t be trying to stop other people going about their lawful business.

Change and uncertainty

• This is an edited extract from Stopping Oil: Climate Justice and Hope by Sophie Bond, Amanda Thomas and Gradon Diprose (Melbourne University Press).
• Amanda Thomas has recevied funding from Deep South National Science challenge in the past to research community responses to climate change.
• Gradon Diprose has received funding from Deep South National Science Challenge to research adaptation to climate change in Aotearoa New Zealand.

• Immediately prior to joining BRG, he was president of a leading global economic consulting firm.
• Sunding has consulted and testified in cases related to competition in industries such as software applications, credit cards and agricultural products.
• Sunding's initial focus at BRG will include growing the firm's successful international competition economics offering into a world-leading practice.
• Twelve of its experts are profiled in Who's Who Legal Competition , and the firm is ranked in the Global Competition Review 100, Global Competition Review Economics 23 and as Band1 in Chambers Litigation Support: Economic Analysts.

• A major spill could release millions of litres of oil into the North Atlantic, likely decimating marine ecosystems and wildlife and ruining existing and future fishery potential.
• An effective cleanup would be virtually impossible in this remote region known for extreme weather conditions.
• It's been estimated that the greenhouse gas emissions produced by the Bay du Nord development over its lifetime would be the equivalent of those produced by 8 new coal plants.
• That such a significant decision is based on a knowingly flawed environmental assessment process shows a lack of regard for the marine ecosystems on which wildlife and fisheries depend.

• DENVER, Feb. 4, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Contributions to the Betty White Wildlife Fund at Morris Animal Foundation reached nearly $250,000 in the weeks following the star's death on December 31, 2021.
• $250,000 raised to support Betty White Wildlife Fund at Morris Animal Foundation.
• When news of White's passing began to be widely shared, the Foundation saw memorial contributions come to the Betty White Wildlife Fund.
• Learn more about the Betty White Wildlife Fund and how you can support animal health studies that advance the health and well-being of animals everywhere.