Presentation on oil, gas exploration

Safety and potential economic benefits were back on the agenda when talk of oil and gas exploration resumed in Dunedin yesterday.

Dunedin City Council and Otago Regional Council representatives, including Dunedin Mayor Dave Cull, attended a presentation at the University of Otago, discussing the next round of petroleum exploration permits.

The presentation, via video conference, was by staff from New Zealand Petroleum and Minerals (NZPM), part of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.

NZPM staff were consulting iwi and councils across New Zealand in preparation for the ministry's next round of competitive tenders for oil exploration permits, which were expected to be announced by the end of the year.

The permits would be for exploration in eight locations, including more areas of the Canterbury and Great South Basins, off the Otago coast, NZPM general manager David Binnie has said.

Mr Cull said yesterday's session was one of several meetings between NZPM representatives and the city council in recent months, which would help inform a council submission on the latest round of tenders.

Topics for discussion included risk management and safety, as well as the potential economic benefits, he said.

''Eight or nine'' city councillors attended, as well as council staff and ORC representatives, he said.