Statoil warned of 'unrelenting campaign'

What was planned as a workshop to discuss future plans of Statoil marine exploration off the Far North's west coast in Kaitaia on Monday deteriorated into open hostility.

The hui, organised by Te Runanga o Te Rarawa, came to an abrupt end when one anti-oil drilling protester began upending tables and telling the Statoil representatives to leave.

Veteran activist Mike Smith decried the "stupidity" of the government granting an exploration permit to Statoil, and warned the company to prepare for battle.

"You're in hostile company up here guys. We're going to attack you in the ports, in your ships, as you go out to sea. We are going to mount an unrelenting campaign against you. It's our social and environmental responsibility," he said.

"We are prepared to stop you. We have to. We love our oceans and we are going to protect them."

Statoil's senior vice-president of exploration Dr Pal Haremo and members of his exploration team faced an onslaught of accusations and threats from opponents, although runanga chairman Haami Piripi said the aim was to "make sure we are armed with the information we need".

"We don't think it's right that we should rely on government and Statoil monitoring," Mr Piripi said.

"We need independent iwi monitoring. This morning is all about the kaitaikitanga issue. This is about us and the prospector. It would be folly of us to turn our backs now. At the end of the six-year exploration process we need to be prepared."

The runanga itself was accused of staging secret meetings, which it denied.

"I'm very upset that we have to barge in here like visitors," Rueben Taipari said.

"We are tangata whenua. We shouldn't have to be like this in our own rohe. This is not how Maori conduct hui.

"You don't listen, this is a waste of time. And right now, Statoil, we're still enemies, not friends."

Dean Baigent-Mercer claimed that seismic testing would kill marine mammals.

"There will be more strandings. There is no point monitoring the testing, as you'll be doing damage as you do it," he said.

Dr Haremo said he appreciated the invitation, and that he was impressed with the "engagement of the people of our coming operations."

"We don't have any final answers. First of all we are here to learn. What I want is to learn the views of the local people," he said.

When asked by Mr Piripi if Statoil would be open to listening to iwi before testing began, the answer was "Definitely. We would appreciate any information to mitigate and minimise risks to marine mammals."

Statoil had been conducting seismic testing for 40 years, however, and he could not imagine any scientific explanation that would stop that continuing.

A high school student asked Dr Haremo how he was going to sleep at night knowing he was a murderer, while many of those present walked out of the meeting to continue their discussion in the foyer.

As Mr Piripi was drawing the meeting to a close, some returned, Ahipara man Selwyn Clarke upending the Statoil representatives' table while others sang.

The Statoil group were eventually ushered out of the meeting to continue their discussions elsewhere.

"This is serious," Mr Taipari told those who remained.

"We're up against a bigger force now. We're up against our own people."