Taranaki gas field contaminates soil

27/11/2012 6:21:45 p.m.

Buddy wrote:

Fracking chemicals in very small PPM cause birth defects and cancers. It doesn't matter how much chemicals are used, if any are present it can cause serious ecological effects. Just because the bad part of fracking is the storage of chemicals doesn't mean that it is not part of fracking. It seems that anytime there is fracking, there is serious lack of proper storage and disposal. Doesn't that alone say we should steer clear of this potentially catastrophic method of obtaining a non-renewable fuel? ELMERFUD I am suspicious of your motives for what you are saying. Are you on the payroll of any chemical/fracking companies?

2/10/2012 9:53:57 p.m.

ElmerFUD wrote:

I call scaremongering on this article: fracking solutions are primarily water, whereas other prior substances in the pits were something you could "burn off"? Fracking isn't the cause of the contamination here - they have only included it so people buy the hype around fracking and think that's what has caused the contamination. Come on TV3, give us some real data and truthful news, then we might actually trust you.

26/09/2012 12:26:49 p.m.

John wrote:

Their next door neighbour is the water treatment plant that supplies drinking water for Hawera.

22/09/2012 6:56:56 a.m.

atrout wrote:

@Karen.. you desperately need a course or two in Logic.. Rightly you say that every resource that supports human activity comes from nature. So, with the brain engaged we have to find ways to carry on with extractive and productive activities on a sustainable basis. This does not mean stopping using resources for one minute, oil included, but it does mean putting a huge effort into mining and manufacturing on an intelligent basis - and it can be done. If not, then civilization will be in true chaos long before the last drop of oil is squeezed out of the ground. And trashing philanthropy is just a childish reaction to the fact that most NZers are comparatively very well off and that spoiled brats feel better by trashing wealth creators. How boring.

21/09/2012 8:12:45 p.m.

Karen wrote:

Great reporting again tv3. Fracking and oil and gas is a national tragedy. I haven't seen anything yet that we buy that doesn't come from nature. So once all natural resources are depleted, what's left of the economy? Economics is an inaccurate measure of true wealth.

20/09/2012 10:25:15 a.m.

Jon Foote wrote:

@ATROUT, I think you find find that the Todds are in bed with Shell, who just so happen to be one of the major oil exporters out of Nigeria. I'm sorry, but environmental destruction comes hand in hand with any oil exploration and money made off the back of it is just dirty money. Community philantrophy is completed as part of the marketing arm of a business and is not done out of goodwill, but more an attempt to garner the trust of the community. Unfortunately, the community believes the BS, as do you.

20/09/2012 8:37:23 a.m.

Jean wrote:

Mr. atrout - people want justice not charity.

20/09/2012 7:27:44 a.m.

atrout wrote:

@Siena... Your precious attitude toward the big bad Todd Foundation is breath-taking. Coming from a privileged background, you should realize that all philanthropy comes from generating enough wealth that some can be put back in to community. Would you prefer that the well-off keep all their hard earned money and that community needs be all provided by Nanny State? Take a good look at why you are attacking the Todds and see if you are not motivated by personal guilt tripping. See who might actually be the "failure". And who would you prefer to provide the petrol for your nice shiny car, the Todds or the Nigerians. (Compare environmental management standards to make the choice).

20/09/2012 6:31:18 a.m.

Siena wrote:

That TODD Family has a lot to answer for. Their main philanthropic vehicle is the Todd Foundation that "provides funding to New Zealand organisations that contribute towards the Foundation’s vision of “inclusive communities where all families, children and young people can thrive and contribute” Communities would rather have a safe toxic free soil environment for the health and well-being of their tamariki. Their (Todd Foundation), and their so-called funding contribution and this is my own opinion, is a mere smoke-screen of hypocracy - They espouse to the public at large that their core value is "commitment to excellence in health, safety and environment." for themselves and not for anybody else. They are in business to make money and that is their only CORE VALUE and concern mirrored by a feigned pretence of being environmentally astute and proactive...They talk the talk with a sweetner called community contributions but they have been walking the walk with their 75 exploration licenses granted to them back in 1954 that covered 7000 square miles...So how much damage to our environment have they wreaked upon our Taranaki communities since then? The costs: financial, health, impact on the communities and environment I'm sure far more than the insulting pittance they contribute to the community. Its their 'Feel Good Guilt Money' 'The man who has won billions at the cost of his conscience and his community is a failure.' Hypocrite TODD FAMILY

20/09/2012 6:05:40 a.m.

atrout wrote:

The contamination was caused by poor practice in disposing and storage of waste products - not fracking. Did Todd pay for the decontamination or was it Taranaki Council? You can also be sure that the industry has learned a vital lesson about being more vigilant about waste management. For once Gareth Hughes is a little more cautious and rightly points out that the waste was mainly from oil, not fracking.