Otaraua Hapu occupation of mine reaches 17 days
The Taranaki hapu of Otaraua have been holding their ground near Waitara for 17 days now while the Greymouth Petroleum Co still refuses to meet with them on site. Production has been completely stopped in the meantime.
About 50 protesters blockaded the gate entrance to the wellsite on Ngatimaru Rd at Tikorangi on March 22nd, in an attempt to stop preparations for drilling through their Tikorangi/Awatetake Pa.
The hillside pa contains precious natural water springs that feed the neighbouring people and are used for various traditional ceremonies. The pa was once home to Otaraua ancestors with urupa/burial grounds and remains of habitation still present. The land is currently leased to a neighbouring farmer however the government claims under the Crown Minerals Act to own all land to a certain depth under the ground, which therefor allowed the mining permit given to Greymouth Petroleum Co.
The local hapu tried over the years to stop the wellsite, one of hundreds in the Taranaki area, but the Greymouth Petroleum Co got the go ahead three years ago. The well is expected to remain in production for thirty years.
The hapu was notified on Thursday March 19th and told of the intention for drilling through their pa to cut costs instead of piping around it. There had been no consultation before that because the company found a loophole in the law that allowed them to avoid consultation with iwi if a site was not registered as a wahi tapu. The Tikorangi/Awatetake Pa site is currently waiting to be registered.
Protesters have now been maintaining an occupation at the gate entrance for 17 days and are prepared to stay as long as necessary. They have constructed a small camp at the gate and have a support crew down the road at the local Otaraua Marae where meals are prepared and the children can play safely. Trucks removing hazardous waste only are being allowed on site. Two security guards have been employed to watch over the area since the occupation began. Police and Maori Liason officers have been visiting the occupation daily (for a cup of tea). They say they will not stop the protests despite requests from the company.
Several attempts to meet with the petroleum company has failed as the company refuses to meet on site or with a group from the hapu. They even went so far as to offer free flights for six people to Wellington. The hapu staunchly continues to refuse.
"They have suggested just meeting one of our representatives but because this affects the whole of the hapu we feel that is a divisive approach." hapu spokesperson David Doorbar says.
The company even attempted to offer a crate of beer to the protesters one night, which was quickly turned down with much disgust at such disrespect. The protest camp is strictly alcohol and drug-free with protesters maintaining a presence at the gate 24/7.
Maori Affairs Minister Pita Sharples said he was "deeply disappointed" by the situation and said the company should have consulted with the hapu despite not legally being required to do so.
“It is important we maintain our position that we will not leave while our waahi tapu remains under threat”, comments kuia Alice Doorbar. “Our tupuna who inhabited this pa understood the meaning of loss and we have over decades witnessed the ongoing encroachment of our waahi tapu all in the name of progress. We are tired of this exploitation of the resource that leaves us with long term environmental damage which all New Zealander’s should be concerned about.”
The protesters have received support from whanau, neighbours and iwi from around Taranaki. The hapu plans to take the issues to the environment court and seek an interim enforcement order to halt works that have now been put off through their protests.
Public are welcome to visit the occupation site and can find it on the corner near the end of Tikorangi Road, just outside of Waitara (ten minutes drive north of New Plymouth).
Auckland-based Greymouth Petroleum chief executive Mark Dunphy is still not answering calls from the media.
Related
http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/2365984/2579373
http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/2283597/Hapu-takes-a-stand-against-drilling
Comments
Re: Otaraua Hapu occupation of mine reaches 17 days
Ka pai this is awesome
Re: Otaraua Hapu occupation of mine reaches 17 days
Climate change has indeed arrived, and the petroleum companies must be checked and their powers restricted. This is so as the atmosphere is losing its sustainablity of life because of the burning of fossil fuels. The burning of fossil fuels replaces oxygen with carbon-dioxide and our specie and others cannot live on CO2. This process of burning coal, gas, oil, and atomic energy in the first industrial revolution has reached such a pollution point that 36% or more of the oxygen has been replaced with CO2 world wide, and already the content of the atmosphere has passed the fail-safe point that is 350 maximum and is now 387, which means that just breathing around the world for our species is doing nothing for us as normal and the past evolution has been surpassed of the safety point and that means that the whole life tree is threatened and removed from our past evolution of life on earth as well beingness.. In short, we cannot continue in all good health this way, we must Re-tool to wind, tidal, and solar power which transforms to electricity, and is more power than can be used by society. Coal, gas, oil, and atomic energy is destroying the planets livability. Viva socialist liberation. End pollution wars, not endless wars for more pollution.
Thank you Maori People for upholding the indigenous worlds well beingness, hold the line and continue to keep mother earth well and save the planet from destruction.
Re: Otaraua Hapu occupation of mine reaches 17 days
Yay this is awesome! kia kaha whanau
sending lots of aroha and tautoko from poneke
Re: Otaraua Hapu occupation of mine reaches 17 days
go hard, solidarity from the AK
Re: Otaraua Hapu occupation of mine reaches 17 days
Toi tu te kupu, toi tu te mana, toi tu te whenua!
Be strong, steadfast and hold firm to your convictions. Once again the might of the crown descends upon us in the form of exploration and development, for the benefit of the nation. Huh! Kei runga te korero, kei raro te pahupahu! We are the ones who determine waahi tapu, not them! Kei a matou te mana korero. Kia tu kaha ai koutou aku hoa, aku whanaunga, ahakoa kei nga topito katoa, kei te tautoko tonu matou. Mauri tu! Mauri ora!