TARANAKI IWI TRUST

SUBMISSION ON THE PROPOSED AREAS FOR

PETROLEUM EXPLORATION

30 January 2013

TARANAKI IWI TRUST

SUBMISSION ON PROPOSED AREAS FOR PETROLEUM EXPLORATION

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 This submission is made for and on behalf of the Taranaki Iwi Trust (“Trust”), who currently has

over 3,000 registered uri (descendants).

1.2 The Trust is the representative body for Taranaki Iwi which is one of the eight iwi in Taranaki and

with an approximate area of interest extending from the West of New Plymouth around coastal

Taranaki to south of Opunake and inland onto Taranaki Mounga (Mt Taranaki).

1.3 The people of Taranaki Iwi exercise mana whenua and mana moana within the Taranaki rohe

(area of interest) and have been kaitiaki of the whenua and moana within the Taranaki rohe for

generations. As kaitiaki we have inherent responsibilities to preserve and protect our whenua,

moana and taonga. This relationship continues to this day and will continue for generations to

come.

2. GOVERNMENT PROPOSAL FOR PETROLEUM EXPLORATION

2.1 The Taranaki Iwi Trust understands that the Government’s proposal is to again offer onshore

and offshore blocks for oil and gas exploration, in 2013. This proposal includes both onshore

and offshore blocks within the Taranaki Iwi rohe.

2.2 On 8 November 2012, the Trust received from New Zealand Petroleum and Minerals (“NZPM”)

information regarding the proposed areas for petroleum exploration, including a map of the

proposed block offer areas.

2.3 We note that this is the first opportunity Taranaki Iwi have had to review the Draft 2013 Block

Offer Invitation for Bids and the criteria for the evaluation of bids, which has changed from the

2012 Block Offer Invitation for Bids, so we also set out our comments in relation to the draft

document in this submission.

2.4 We confirm that Taranaki Iwi has an interest in the following proposed blocks:

- Onshore Blocks 13TAR5

- Offshore Blocks 13TAR-R1, specifically including block coordinates:

- 172E37, 172E38, 172E39, 172E40

- 173E37, 173E38, 173E39

- 174E39

3. SUMMARY OF THIS SUBMISSION

3.1 Taranaki Iwi again supports the competitive block offer process which provides for an

assessment of bidders to ensure the safe and responsible development of mineral resources in

Aotearoa / New Zealand.

3.2 The Trust’s position and submissions regarding the proposed areas for oil and gas exploration is

as follows:

(a) The proposed 13TAR5 block within the Taranaki Iwi rohe includes:

(i) sites which are historically and culturally significant to Taranaki Iwi; and

(ii) waterways which are to be the subject of Statutory Acknowledgements

within the Treaty settlement currently being negotiated between the Crown

and Taranaki iwi,

which should be excluded from being offered for competitive tendering in Block Offer

2013.

(b) The proposed 13TAR-R1 block includes:

(i) areas historically and culturally significant to Taranaki Iwi; and

(ii) areas used by Taranaki Iwi and others for customary fishing; and

(iii) areas where traditional kaimoana (seafood) reefs are located,

which should be excluded from being offered for competitive tendering in Block Offer

2013.

(c) The proposed 13TAR-R1 offshore blocks, combined with those offshore blocks

previously offered have a significant cumulative effect on the Taranaki Iwi rohe moana;

and

(d) An assessment of the cumulative effects of exploration and production activities in the

Taranaki Basin should occur prior to the 13TAR-R1 offshore blocks being offered up for

competitive tendering. We note that this was requested in 2012, but that no such

assessment was completed.

4. DRAFT 2013 BLOCK OFFER INVITATION FOR BIDS

4.1 As stated previously, Taranaki Iwi supports a competitive block offer process which provides for

an assessment of bidders to ensure the safe and responsible development of mineral resources

in Aotearoa / New Zealand.

4.2 We set out below our specific comments in respect of the draft document.

Bid Evaluation Criteria

4.3 Schedule 2 of the draft document sets out the criteria for the evaluation of bids. We note that

the evaluation of a bidder’s environmental protection history does not appear to be a specified

criteria proposed for assessment by NZPM, but submit that it should be.

4.4 We note that this was an issue we raised in our submission on the 2012 Block Offer and that it is

again absent from any criteria in the Draft 2013 Block Offer.

4.5 While we understand that the Resource Management Act 1991 (“RMA”) requires assessment by

local and regional councils of the environmental impacts of specific explorations activities and

sites, and that the Exclusive Economic Zone and Continental Shelf (Environmental Effects) Act

2012 (“EEZ Act”) requires a similar assessment by the Environmental Protection Authority

(“EPA”), neither local and regional authorities nor the EPA will be responsible for assessing a

bidder’s environmental protection practices or history – we see this as a role for NZPM during

this proposed competitive block offer process.

4.6 In Taranaki Iwi’s view, successful bidders under this competitive block offer process should not

only have the operational, management and technical expertise but should also demonstrate a

high standard of environmental protection practices in carrying out exploration activities.

5. PROPOSED 13TAR5 BLOCK

5.1 The proposed block referred to as 13TAR5 is and onshore block located in the Taranaki Iwi rohe,

which is shared with our neighbouring iwi Ngāruahine, and on land:

(a) which was at the heart of the Taranaki land wars;

(b) where the military campaign focused on destroying villages, crops and other resources

was implemented (This has been described by some as the scorched earth policy);

(c) where significant Taranaki Iwi pa (including Te Namu Pa) and kainga are located;

(d) where significant loss of Taranaki Iwi and other lives occurred; and

(e) which was subject to raupatu and confiscated from Taranaki Iwi under the New

Zealand Settlements Act 1863;

5.2 Taranaki Iwi suffered some of the most serious breaches of the Treaty of Waitangi, at the hands

of the Crown and in the area of the proposed onshore block within the Taranaki Iwi rohe.

5.3 Taranaki Iwi seeks exclusion of the following sites from the proposed 2013 Block Offer:

Site Name Type of Site

Opua Kainga

Te Umuroa Kainga

Nukuteapiapi Kainga

Operu Kainga

Te Namu Kainga Kainga

Te Namuiti Pa

Te Namu Pa

Komania Kainga

MokauKumara Kainga

Te Moua Kainga

Tukutukumanu Kainga

Kokohuia Kainga

Orimupiko Pa / Urupa

Taumatakahawai Pa

Matakaha Pa / Urupa

Pukekohatu Pa / Urupa

Hingaiamotu Kainga

Mataikahawai Pa / Kainga

Pateatahi Kainga

Kororanui Kainga

Puhara te rangi Pa

Oruapea Kainga

Watino Kainga

Matai Kainga

Tuaruhe Kainga / Urupa

Mangatawa Kainga

Papakakatiro Kainga / Urupa

Otumatua Pa / Kainga / Urupa

Koputahae Kainga

Whakatukorou Kainga

Pokuru Kainga / Urupa

Kaihuka Pa

Tarerematariki Kainga

Pariwhakataha Kainga

Kawatapu Pa / Kainga

Tutaekea Pa / Kainga

Oeo Kainga Kainga

Mataaho Pa / Kainga

5.4 Taranaki Iwi confirms the following:

(a) Taranaki Iwi do not currently have an iwi environmental management plan;

(b) not all of the above sites are registered with the New Zealand Archaeological

Association;

(c) not all of the above sites are listed on the schedules of the relevant District Plan; and

(d) Taranaki Iwi is currently in Treaty settlement negotiations with the Crown, including

with the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment.

5.5 Taranaki Iwi do not have the resources and are not in a position to provide information such as

GPS map coordinates for the sites, but we are available to work with the NZPM to provide

locations for these sites.

5.6 As a part of the Treaty Settlement negotiations with the Crown, Taranaki Iwi is seeking statutory

acknowledgements over all waterways within the Taranaki Iwi rohe. As such, Taranaki Iwi seeks

an exclusion of 200m either side of the following waterways:

Waterways

Waireka

Tapuwae

Oakura

Timaru

Pitoone

Katikara

Maitahi

Kaihihi

Hangatahua

Matanehunehu

Waiweranui

Te Ikaparua (Warea)

Waitekaure

Kapoaiaia

Otahi

Moukoro

Waitaha

Pungaereere

Okahu

Moutoti

Oaoiti

Oaonui

Arawhata

Okaweu

Heimana (Heimama)

Otahi (Opunake)

Waiaua

Mangahume

Waiteika

Taungatara

Punehu

Ouri

Oeo

Rawa o Turi

6. PROPOSED 13TAR – R1 BLOCK

6.1 The proposed 13TAR-R1 block is an offshore block abuts part of the Taranaki Iwi coastline, which

is shared with our neighbouring iwi. Along this coastline are areas used for by Taranaki Iwi and

others for customary and recreational fishing and where traditional kaimoana (seafood) reefs

are located.

6.2 It is our submission that acknowledgement of the significance of these sites should involve the

exclusion of traditional reefs and customary fishing sites from the parameters of the proposed

13TAR – R1 block. The Trust would be happy to work through this detail with NZPM and our

local hapu fisheries kaitiaki.

6.3 Taranaki Iwi seeks exclusion of the following sites from the proposed 2013 Block Offer:

Site Name Type of Site

Waikupakupa / Waikukakuka Tauranga Waka / Puukaawa

Tataraimaka Tauranga Waka / Puukaawa

Maitahi Tauranga Waka / Puukaawa

Whareatea Tauranga Waka / Puukaawa

Ngatokamaomao Tauranga Waka / Puukaawa

Mokotunu Tauranga Waka / Puukaawa

Taihua Tauranga Waka / Puukaawa

Tuiraho Tauranga Waka / Puukaawa

Tarakihi Tauranga Waka / Puukaawa

Te Hopuhopu Tauranga Waka / Puukaawa

Te Puta Tuapo Tauranga Ika

Waikauri Tauranga Ika

Ko Te Ikaroa / Te Mapua / Te Awa a Tuterangi Tauranga Waka / Puukaawa /

Tauranga Ika

Tipoka Tauranga Waka / Puukaawa

Mataurukuhia Puukaawa / Tauranga Ika

Tokaroa Tauranga Waka / Puukaawa

Paparoa Puukaawa

Oraukawa Tauranga Waka / Puukaawa

Moutoti Tauranga Waka / Puukaawa

Waiwiri Tauranga Waka / Puukaawa

Arawhata Tauranga Waka / Puukaawa

Otahi (Te Namu) Tauranga Waka / Puukaawa

Mangahume Puukaawa

Puketapu (Pihama) Puukaawa

Otumatua Tauranga Waka / Puukaawa

6.4 The proposed 13 TAR – R1 block above is located (in part) within the Taranaki Iwi rohe moana.

Taranaki Iwi is concerned that vast areas within the Taranaki Basin have previously been subject

to block offers and are currently subject to various exploration and mining permits, without any

information on the cumulative effects of all this activity being completed or available.

7. CONCLUSION

7.1 We submit that our role and responsibility as kaitiaki of Taranaki Iwi whenua, moana and taonga

must be acknowledged within the new competitive block offer process.

7.2 Taranaki Iwi would welcome the opportunity to present this submission orally (if required),

answer any questions or provide further information where necessary.

Noho ora mai

Taranaki Iwi Trust

CONTACT PERSON REGARDING THIS SUBMISSION

Liana Poutu

General Manager

Taranaki Iwi Trust

PO Box 929

Taranaki Mail Centre

NEW PLYMOUTH 4340

Email: liana@taranakiiwi.org.nz

Phone: (06) 751 4285