Islanders rise up

They've been quiet up til now but it seems they have bestirred themselves, the people of Stewart Island, and are taking action against the drilling that's about to begin on the island. Today's Southland Times carries the story that tells of unrest and discontent around the way island opinion has been represented, with Kiwi-French Creperie owner Britt Moore claiming that there is strong opposition on the island, to the Greymouth Petroleum oil rig that has been erected and made ready to drill. Ms Moore says the council representatives have not conveyed the true picture of the extent of opposition to the drilling and that she intends to remedy that, starting with the gathering of signatures on a petition today. She hopes to ensure that future consent applications from drilling companies be publicly notified so that islanders can have their rightful say about what happens on the island. The consents granted to Greymouth Petroleum for the present exploratory drilling, from the Southland District Council and Southland Regional Council (Environment Southland) were non-notified. Meanwhile, the Councillor on the island says there is little if any opposition to the drilling.
The full article is here.