August 12, 2010

North Island's oil drilling may disrupt aquaculture farming

New Zealand's permission for an open oil drilling in the Raukumara basin off North Island stoked concern that it might pose a serious threat to the iwi (Maori tribe)'s aquaculture plans.

The government has granted a Brazilian company, Petrobras, a five year exploration licence.

Whakatohea Maori Trust Board Chairman Robert Edwards said the iwi has a joint venture with Sealord which will see the first five mussel lines put in off Opotiki in October, and is also entering a joint venture with a Chinese company, Oriental Ocean, to farm sea cucumber in an onshore facility.

He said that the BP oil disaster in the Gulf of Mexico has made Maori wary.