Oil protesters take Maori case to Norway

After months of protesting in opposition to oil exploration in the Te Reinga Basin, three Far North representatives will head to Statoil headquarters in Norway to voice their opposition. Photo / Peter de Graaf

Anti-drilling group represent iwi

Three Far North representatives are travelling to the head office of Statoil in Norway to express widespread opposition to oil exploration in the Te Reinga Basin.

Hinekaa Maako, Te Wani Otene and Mike Smith head off today representing Far North hapu and iwi and are seeking support from the indigenous Sami Parliament of Norway, who are shareholders in Statoil.

The group will travel to Statoil's company headquarters in time for their annual general meeting on May 19 to voice their opposition to oil exploration in Te Reinga Basin.

"We want to go there and show them images of protests in Northland, to say the New Zealand Government is confused about its authority to issue deep-sea oil permits in our territories and we are in Norway to tell Statoil they are not welcome here," Miss Maako said.

The trip comes after months of protests in opposition of Norwegian oil company Statoil exploring for oil and gas in Te Reinga Basin.

Ms Maako said the group would take letters of opposition on behalf of Ngati Kuri, Ngati Kahu and Te Rarawa, which had also been passed on to Prime Minister John Key and Simon Bridges.

"Te Hiku holds significance for Maori and the rest of New Zealand. Many people, including foreign tourists and New Zealanders, pilgrimage to see the two oceans meet at Te Rerenga Wairua [Cape Reinga]," she said.

Ms Maako said the need for oil exploration in the basin was unnecessary.

"The ultra Deep Sea Oil exploration projects are extremely risky and we don't need more fossil fuels, we have enough. The real threat is any oil spill will be a thousand times worse than what we have seen in Tauranga. We don't have the resources here to deal with such spill like in the Gulf of Mexico."

The trio will also meet with a range of other groups to spread their message.

"We're also meeting with civil society groups, NGOs, uni students and environmental groups to ... let them know what this means to the indigenous people of Te Hiku."