Energy watchdog wins precedent-setting battle over safety zones

After a four-year fight an energy sector watchdog has won a precedent-setting battle to have safety buffer zones around oil and gas installations included in the South Taranaki district plan. The Environment Court has decided that setbacks of 250 metres are required for well heads and 650 metres for production stations to minimise the risk of injury or death to members of the public in a fire or explosion. But farmers, for one, have been left scratching their heads wondering what the decision means for them. RNZ's Taranaki Whanganui reporter Robin Martin has more.