28 Aug 2012

EEZ bill passes final reading in Parliament

8:25 pm on 28 August 2012

A law designed to manage activity, including oil exploration, on New Zealand's seabed and continental shelf has been passed in Parliament.

The Exclusive Economic Zone and Continental Shelf Environmental Effects Bill passed in a vote of 72 to 49, with the Labour, Green and Mana parties voting against it.

Environment Minister Amy Adams says the law change will allow the Government to carefully manage the development of ocean resources.

But the Green Party says the Government is declaring an open season for deep water oil drilling.