Texas of the South? Economic Development, Petroleum and Environmental Conflict in New Zealand Dr Terrence Loomis

Benefits of Unconventional Oil and Gas Energy security Geopolitical influence GDP growth Cheaper gas and fuels Employment Environmentally safe and responsible Gas a ‘transition fuel’ to a low-carbon economy

Harmful Effects of Unconventional Oil & Gas Development Types of Impacts Examples of Negative Impacts Economic • Exaggerated local employment claims • Damage to other business sectors • Infrastructure costs • Housing availability and land values • Pressure on services and civil administration Environmental and Health • Methane leakage and climate change • Surface and groundwater contamination • Waste treatment problems • Air pollution and health problems • Increased seismicity (earthquakes) Social • Municipal government overload • Dislocation, homelessness • Increased crime • Social conflict, widening disparities Cultural • Disruption to indigenous peoples’ life • Heritage and amenity destruction • Upheaval in community identity & networks

My Research Government manoeuvres and petroleum industry strategies to promote oil and gas development and defend the industry. How environmental organisations, community groups and Maori activists have responded to these manoeuvres and strategies. The structural (i.e. institutional) effects of government and industry collaborative efforts to deal with community-based opposition and local government sector criticism.

Government’s Key Legislative Manoeuvres The Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA) Exclusive Economic Zone and Continental Shelf (Environmental Effects) Act 2012 (EEZCSA) The Crown Minerals Act 1991 (CMA) The Local Government Act 2002 (LGA)

Government’s Oil and Gas Promotional Activities ‘Factual’ Information Dissemination Official Propaganda, Cheerleading and Jawboning Subverting Community Power and Environmental Protest Agenda-driven Funding: Buying International Investment and Community Compliance Local Government Gate-Keeping and Advocacy

NZ Petroleum Industry Strategies PR spin and ‘reasoned’ debate Neutralising environmental opposition Influencing government policies and regulations Co-opting communities and ‘partnering’ with iwi

The social system of production, distribution and accumulation can be understood as a group of structures linked by certain rules and laws. -- Maurice Godelier

The Regulation Triangle Corporations Citizens/Workers Government

Changing Institutional Relations in New Zealand Petroleum Industry Community/Local Government Sector Government

Institutions for Resource Management and Regional/Local Development Planning Government structures and procedures for developing resource management and safety policies, legislation, regulations, monitoring and enforcement Environment courts Extractive industry environmental impact planning and community engagement policies Regional council resource planning and monitoring systems Local resource consenting and appeals processes Local council long-term planning, and local structures and processes for planning and implementing economic development.

Shifts in State/Civil Sector Institutional Values and Priorities From localism to centralism From inclusive, active citizen engagement to ‘representative’ and government-driven local/regional development planning From ‘sustainable development’ to ‘sustainable growth’ (economic growth priority)

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