Conflict between conservation and offshore oil could worsen, research suggests

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2026-02-26 14:03

New Zealand

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NZ researchers who interviewed groups involved in marine conservation and petroleum extraction say we need a number of changes to reduce conflict. Looking at the petroleum permitting process, they say the regulatory structure is complex and fragmented, putting economic interests ahead of environmental concerns and public input. They also find a "disconnect" between the Western consultation systems and Indigenous worldviews. The study concludes that while Māori resource rights remain unresolved, and without explicit Marine Protected Areas in our waters, tensions are likely to escalate.

Expert Reaction

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Jessica Rutherford is a PhD candidate in the School of Science, University of Waikato

"The current government's 2025 reinstatement of offshore oil and gas development risks intensifying conflicts with marine conservation efforts in a poorly protected Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

"We investigated those trade-offs, focusing on the first licensing decision made for offshore oil and gas activities.

"Our research showed that in Aotearoa New Zealand these decisions often exclude environmental concerns and societal views, in a system where strategies for integrated ocean protection policies are lacking.

"Specifically, early offshore oil and gas permitting decisions prioritise economic interests, exclude public input, fail to uphold Māori resource rights, creating inequities and undermining Treaty partnership principles, and do not consider climate change concerns. This system undermines future decision-making processes about Aotearoa's marine environment and can escalate future conflicts.

"Interviewees highlighted an overwhelming need for broader ocean planning and inclusive decision-making that balances ecological and economic interests for long-term, responsible ocean management. The lack of marine protection in the EEZ, which excludes oil and gas, underscores the vulnerability to exploitation. For example, currently there are 8 active petroleum permits, of which five are located in marine mammal sanctuaries."

Last updated: 27 Feb 2026 12:35pm

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Declared conflicts of interest Jessica Rutherford is lead author of this paper.

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Research Elsevier, Web page

Journal/
conference: The Extractive Industries and Society

Research:Paper

Organisation/s: University of Waikato, University of Auckland

Funder: This research has been partially funded by doctoral scholarship with the University of Waikato School of Graduate Research (awarded to J. Rutherford), and a Social Science and Humanities Research Council of Canada grant for the research project “Offshore oil exploratory drilling: leasing decisions and marine protected areas” (grant #435-2019-0724) (awarded to G. S. Fraser, A. Carter and J. Ellis). Open access publishing facilitated by The University of Waikato, as part of the Elsevier - University of Waikato agreement via the Council of Australian University Librarians.

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