Hughes Gareth: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Hughes Gareth: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Sitting date: 24 July 2012. Volume:682;Page:3810. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
9. 
GARETH HUGHES (Green) 
 to the  
Minister of Energy and Resources 
: What depth is the seabed in the areas covered by tendered petroleum exploration permits 12PEG2 off the coast of Wellington and 12GS2 off the coast of Otago and how does this compare to the depth of the deepest producing well in New Zealand? 
Hon PHIL HEATLEY (Minister of Energy and Resources) 
: 
 The deepest well ever drilled in New Zealand was the Wakanui-1 at 1467 metres. The deepest currently producing well is the Tui at 125 metres. 12PEG2 covers depths ranging from 1000 to 2750 metres and 12GS2 depths ranging from 1250 to 2250 metres. I would like to note that the exploration permits for 12GS2 which we have just released were also tendered by the previous Government which was supported by that member’s party. We thank Labour and the Green Party for their foresight. 
Gareth Hughes 
: So pretty deep eh. How will New Zealand’s identified 5500-tonne oil spill response capability be sufficient to deal with a leak from an exploratory deep-sea well at these depths given that the 1500-metre Deepwater Horizon exploratory well in the Gulf of Mexico leaked more than 600000 tonnes? 
Hon PHIL HEATLEY 
: Because first of all at the front end the goal of the exploration companies of this Government of the Environmental Protection Authority and of all consenting bodies including the Ministry of Economic Development is to make sure that does not happen. If it does happen Maritime New Zealand has equipment onshore in New Zealand and on call internationally including in Australia to make sure that a response can be undertaken. Those are the assurances we are given by those bodies. 
Gareth Hughes 
: Given that the Gulf of Mexico disaster was stopped only when a second rig drilled a relief well and it can take 4 to 6 weeks at best—at best—for a relief rig to arrive in New Zealand will the Minister require a second rig to be on standby during deep-sea drilling operations? 
Hon PHIL HEATLEY 
: No. The exploration companies which are experts in this field are best placed to put a response plan in position. It will be run over by experts within various Government departments. I do not think it is wise to take the Green Party’s advice on how you would respond to an incident like that. I would prefer to hear from the experts. 
Gareth Hughes 
: Given the Government does not have the resources to deal with an oil spill and the economic impact would be catastrophic will he listen to the more than 140000 New Zealanders who signed Greenpeace’s petition calling on him to prohibit deep-sea oil drilling and the experts around the world who are saying a second relief rig is the only way to stop a deep-sea blowout? 
Hon PHIL HEATLEY 
: I disagree with what the member is implying. 
Gareth Hughes 
: I seek leave to table the Greenpeace technical report  
Out of our depth: Deep-sea oil exploration in New Zealand 
. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? There is objection.