Iwi head to Norway to challenge oil giant

A delegation from Te Hiku o te Ika are travelling to the head office of Norway's biggest company, Statoil, to demonstrate the widespread opposition to its oil exploration programme in Te Reinga Basin.

Far North tribal representatives leave tomorrow and will be meeting with the indigenous Sami Parliament of Norway to seek their support in demanding a future free of deep sea oil drilling.

They will then travel to Norway's oil capital of Stavanger to tell Statoil management at the company’s headquarters that their ships are not welcome in Aotearoa’s seas.

The delegation is making the journey on behalf of a number of hapu and iwi, including Ngati Kuri, Ngati Kahu and Te Rarawa, who have all made strong statements of opposition to Statoil's deep sea exploration plans in Te Reinga Basin.

As one of the Kaitiaki for the marine area, kaumatua and member of Te Ahipara Komiti Takutaimoana, Te Wani Otene, says the iwi wants Statoil to surrender their permits and go home.

We only have to look at recent history to see our future, the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is still causing so much damage, we are not going to let that happen in Ahipara, to Te Oneroa a Tohe, he says.

ENDS

© Scoop Media