The Ground Between: Navigating the Oil and Mining Debate in New Zealand: 2017

Description

Battles over oil and mining developments in New Zealand are fierce and polarised. Often presented as a simple trade-off between conservation or quick profit, the debate leaves little space for discussion across ideological divides. The Ground Between provides a rare account from someone who has worked within this contested arena. Drawing on his experience with local and international mining companies, governments and NGOs, Sefton Darby reflects frankly on the state of resource extraction in New Zealand. Seeking to reset the debate within a global context, this book is ultimately about how we - as a country - make decisions around contentious issues.

Sefton Darby is a Sydney-based consultant working on strategy development, community engagement, and overseas aid and development projects. His clients include governments, NGOs, corporations and multilateral organisations in New Zealand, Australia and globally. Darby grew up on the Otago Peninsula and graduated with a BA (Hons) from the University of Otago, followed by an M.Litt. from the University of St Andrews in Scotland. He has worked on extractives governance issues since 2003 in Europe, the United States, New Zealand, Australia, West Africa and Central Asia for the British and New Zealand governments, the World Bank, NGOs and private mining companies. His interests are in multi-stakeholder governance; the political and security impacts of climate change; and the future of the oil and mining sectors.