New Zealand oil spill response strategy - Maritime New Zealand

Appendix 5 - Agencies with Statutory Roles and/or
Responsibilities
Notwithstanding the statutory functions of agencies listed below, the Minister for Transport remains
the lead Minister for marine oil spill response activities, and Maritime New Zealand the lead agency.
Biosecurity New Zealand
• To make arrangements with Maritime New Zealand to allow the efficient transfer of oil response
equipment, personnel and craft into New Zealand;
• Provide advice to Maritime New Zealand on protocols for the management of oil spill
equipment;
• Provide advice to Maritime New Zealand on the marine biosecurity threats associated with
affected vessels; and
• Provide advice to Maritime New Zealand as required, on the biosecurity requirements of partner
nations when transferring oil spill equipment, personnel and craft from New Zealand.
Department of Conservation
• To ensure that in the event of a marine oil spill emergency that the necessary consents and
approvals needed for an effective response involving the conservation estate, flora and fauna,
and particularly rare and endangered species are provided according to policy and, where these
are not already in place, to do so without delay;
• To be consulted about the approval or review of regional Marine Oil Spill Contingency Plans;
• Act as a contractor to industry, regional councils and Maritime New Zealand with support for oil
spill planning and response logistics, communications and personnel.
• Under the Wildlife Act 1953, to authorise:
o capture, handling, possession and transfer of protected wildlife;
o holding of protected wildlife in captivity for the purpose of treatment and rehabilitation, and
to license approved people and institutions to do so;
o euthanasia of injured protected wildlife where necessary to avoid further suffering; and
o liberation of protected wildlife after rehabilitation.
• Under the Conservation Act 1987, National Parks Act 1980, the Marine Reserves Act 1971,
and the Wildlife Act 1953, to authorise:
o as owner or occupier of land where entry is restricted, access by OSCs or their staff or
agents, where needed for the effective control or mitigation of marine oil spills;
o the capture and euthanasia, where necessary of and fauna found within these classes of
land;
o the removal or disturbance of vegetation, gravel, sand and the like in the course of clean-up
operations, or for a more effective response to a marine oil spill emergency.
• Under the Marine Mammals Protection Act 1978, to authorise:
o
the capture and marking of injured marine mammals, and their euthanasia, where necessary,
to avoid further suffering due to the effects of a marine oil spill.
Department of Labour
• To second the Chief Petroleum Inspector to Maritime New Zealand, in order to assess the
safety requirements for offshore installations and structures where this falls within Maritime New
Zealand's jurisdiction under the HSE Act.
Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
• To provide a co-ordination role between departments and to ensure the highest operational
effectiveness of government, for significant oil spills;
• Provide access to the Domestic and External Security Co-ordination System, if needed for a
whole of government approach;
• Maintain a watching brief on inter-departmental activity during the response to an oil spill.
Ministry for Economic Development – Crown Minerals
• To advise new petroleum explorers and developers of the requirement for oil spill contingency
planning and discharge management, and refer them to Maritime New Zealand.
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