Dunedin residents will be given an opportunity to ask government agencies about oil and gas exploration in New Zealand, at a public meeting in the city next month.
The meeting, to be chaired by Ngai Tahu elder Edward Ellison, will be held at 4.45pm on May 1, at Dunedin's Araiteuru marae.
Six government agencies, together with regional and district councils, share the responsibility for managing petroleum and mineral activities in New Zealand.
They are holding a public information session in Dunedin to explain and answer questions on all aspects of the Government's regulatory regime for petroleum and minerals exploration and production.
Representatives from New Zealand Petroleum and Minerals, Environmental Protection Authority, Maritime New Zealand, WorkSafe New Zealand, Ministry for the Environment, the Department of Conservation and the Otago Regional Council will be at the meeting.
A large part of the meeting has been set aside for residents to ask questions about the regulations and processes involved in oil and gas exploration.
However, in a bid to provide more in-depth answers, the agencies have invited residents to send questions before the meeting, via the Dunedin City Council website (www.dunedin.govt.nz/council-online/public-notices/oil-and-gas-regulatory...).
Questions not answered in the discussion session will be published on the DCC website after the meeting.
