Petroleum Development and Environmental Conflict in Aotearoa New Zealand: Texas of the South Pacific [Paperback]

Petroleum Development and Environmental Conflict in Aotearoa New Zealand: Texas of the South Pacific examines the dilemmas associated with economic growth through the expansion of resource extraction. States seeking to grow their economies through the expansion of resource extraction are forced to cope with the rising influence of transnational corporations on domestic politics and democratic institutions; to mitigate the environmental damage from increased extraction activities; to respond to the mounting evidence which indicates that unconventional oil and gas development practices are harming communities, local environments, and human health; and to manage the international pressures and citizens demands that climate change is addressed through a transition from fossil fuel dependence to a clean-energy economy. Terrence M. Loomis analyzes the circumstances under which environmental opposition to state policies to promote oil and gas developmentin collaboration with the petroleum industry, has lead to far-reaching changes in institutional relations between the state and civil society.Terrence M. Loomis is independent researcher and visiting research scholar at the Institute for Governance and Policy Studies at Victoria University.

This book presents a detailed and compelling argument regarding the way pressures to expand natural resource development can distort political, economic and social processes. By focusing on a developed, democratic state, Loomis moves the debate beyond a tale of exploitation of institutionally weak states.... This book will be of interest to academic and general readers in New Zealand and more broadly, given the global character of the issues examined. Environmental Politics

Terrence M. Loomis has written an informative book about oil politics in New Zealand that holds no punches as it calls out government agencies and oil companies alike for their devious tactics to develop so-called unconventional drilling despitlc)