People urged to keep open mind on oil, gas exploration

People living on the East Coast and in Hawke's Bay are being urged to keep an open mind on oil and gas exploration.

The Government has commissioned an economic development study with Business Hawke's Bay, which should be finished by the end of the year.

Local MPs Craig Foss and Chris Tremain say they'll be following it closely and are keen to see a realistic assessment of the regionâ s potential.

Mr Foss says the study will produce facts about what exploration could mean for jobs and economic growth.

He thinks everyone in the region will be interested to see the outcome, and he's confident there'll be a balance between economic opportunity and environmental risk.

He says Taranaki has produced oil and gas for many years with jobs and great opportunities for families, which he'd love to have on the opposite coast.

Mr Foss says the MPs have worked with the Minister of Energy to ensure local aquifers, or subsurface reservoirs, are excluded from any prospecting rights.

Photo: Mt Taranaki (stock.xchng)