Perhaps I have got this wrong, but from what I have read in the newspapers, representatives from NZ Petroleum and Minerals and the Environmental Protection Authority were invited to the Korou Kore Marae to discuss the potential for deep-sea oil drilling off the coast of Northland, andto further explain and discuss strategies to ensure the process was environmentally safe.
However, not only were the visitors constantly interrupted, but, a relatively short way into their presentations - which they had been invited to present - they were told to leave. This was, evidently, so that those present could have a discussion among themselves to explain to each other what they were opposed to without having to listen to what was being proposed.
Regardless of the issues to be discussed, this seems to me to be extraordinarily rude and bad-mannered. And for Hone Harawira to describe it as "a robust discussion'' is quite ludicrous. A discussion involves the sharing and comparing of views and opinions, which can be widely divergent, but at least people are prepared to listen to them.
This is not taking a pro- or anti-mining position. It is just that, personally, I would like to know more about what the physical and economic potential for drilling and mining is in Northland, what the potential hazards could be, how such hazards may differ from other such activities in the world, and how they would be controlled and managed if they were to eventuate.
But when you start with the statement that "people up here are totally opposed to mining and deep-sea oil drilling and will take whatever steps are necessary to ensure it doesn't happen,'' together with the one-eyed and rude approach at the marae, and which seems to exist among many others in our region, I guess my chances of obtaining factual information, divergent views and reasoned debate are slim indeed.
