Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Dunedin Council wants moratorium on fracking

Updated at 5:23 am on 25 July 2012

Dunedin City Council voted on Tuesday to call for a national moratorium on the mining technique fracking.

Five councils including Christchurch have already called for an immediate ban on new hydraulic fracturing activities because of fears it might pollute water or cause small earthquakes.

Dunedin council backed the idea of a moratorium until the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment delivers a report on the technique, which is expected in November.

Councillors passed the motion by seven votes to six, with those in favour describing the move as precautionary.

Copyright © 2012, Radio New Zealand