Christopher Luxon's Botany office was defaced as "Trump's war minerals HQ" by Greenpeace. Photo / Greenpeace
Christopher Luxon's Botany office was defaced as "Trump's war minerals HQ" by Greenpeace. Photo / Greenpeace
Police are investigating a protest at Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s electoral office after it was plastered in American flags and an image of United States President Donald Trump.
Greenpeace confirmed this morning that it was behind the protest at Luxon’s office, saying it was against the Government’s proposed frameworkwith the US on critical minerals.
Counties Manukau East CIB Detective Senior Sergeant Dean Batey said: “At around 7.42am, police received a report of wilful damage to an electoral office on Millhouse Drive, Botany Downs.
“Stickers have been applied over the windows and front signage of the building.
Photos from the Botany office in East Auckland show multiple US flags propped up along the entrance, with a large poster of Trump alongside an image of Luxon, while a sign on the front lawn reads: “Trump war minerals HQ”.
A sign outside Christopher Luxon's electorate office reads "Trump war minerals HQ" alongside an image depicting an American bald eagle with a Kiwi in its claws. Photo / Greenpeace
The sign also includes an image depicting an American bald eagle preying on a Kiwi.
A witness who was driving past saw people in orange jumpsuits hop out of a van and put up the sign and flags.
The Prime Minister’s office said the matter is with police.
Police added: “Anyone with information is asked to update police online now or call 105 using the reference number 260319/7764.
“Information can also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.”
It comes after the Herald revealed that the Cabinet had been briefed on the topic and that officials had negotiated amendments to the framework before Luxon said discussions were at a “very preliminary stage”.
Greenpeace Aotearoa campaigner Juressa Lee said any minerals deal would not only lead to environmental destruction, but also make New Zealand complicit in Trump’s war-mongering.
“The Luxon Government must not sign Aotearoa away to fuel the United States’ illegal wars. New Zealand should have no part in this, and that includes giving Trump access to the resources he needs to keep dropping bombs.”
A large poster of US President Donald Trump is placed alongside an American flag and Prime Minister Christopher Luxon in a protest by Greenpeace. Photo / Greenpeace
Luxon returned to New Zealand on Wednesday evening after a three-day trip to the Pacific, where he met leaders from Samoa and Tonga.
The proposed minerals framework could provide New Zealand with direct funding from the US into critical mineral projects, “leading to increased economic activity and promoting New Zealand technology solutions”, according to recently released documents.
However, Lee said, “We are seeing in real time the terrible impacts of Trump’s wars across the world. New Zealand should not become complicit in this.
“We know a minerals deal would be bad for the land and sea of Aotearoa. But since the United States and Israeli Governments launched a military attack on Iran in clear breach of international law, the stakes are even higher.”
More than 13,000 people have signed a Greenpeace petition calling for Luxon to refuse Trump’s demands for critical minerals.
“We’re calling on Luxon to say no to a minerals deal with Trump. We’re also inviting the public to show their strong opposition to this deal if they’re concerned about complicity in war-mongering and the exploitation of our environment for military aggression.
“This is not the first time the US has tried to disrupt a free and peaceful Pacific; the history of nuclear testing proves this. Aotearoa and the Pacific were united over stopping the region being a nuclear testing ground then, and now we must do it again, and not be complicit in providing the materials for war.”
