A high-pressure method for extracting oil and natural gas has been gaining attention as its use is grows in New Zealand.
Hydraulic fracturing, known as ‘fracking’ or ‘fraccing’, is a mining process which involves pumping mixtures of water, sand and chemicals into bore holes to break apart rock seams containing oil and natural gas.
Recent national coverage of hydraulic fracturing:
Taranaki Daily Times: Concern as gas drilling intensifies
Radio New Zealand: Ban wanted on extraction method
Radio New Zealand: Fracking linked to earthquakes
Taranaki Daily Times: Public divided over fracking risk
The Press: Fracking: yes or no?
Several newspaper opinion pieces have raised the issue, arguing the potential benefits and harms of the process.
Taranaki Daily Times: Editorial: A fracking scandal on our back doorstep
New Zealand Herald: What the frack is the government thinking
Taranaki Daily Times: To frack or not to frack?
New Zealand Herald: Fraction too much fiction about fracking
Press: Don’t believe fracking scare stories