Iwi group prepare to confront Norwegian oil giant at AGM

Iwi group prepare to confront Norwegian oil giant at AGM

Media Advisory: Iwi group prepare to confront Norwegian oil giant at AGM A Māori delegation from Te Hiku o te Ika will fulfil the last goal of their trip to Norway when they confront the country’s largest company at its own AGM.

The Taikaha delegation has made the journey on behalf of a number of hapu and iwi, including Ngati Kuri, Ngati Kahu and Te Parewhero, who have all made strong statements of opposition to Norwegian oil giant Statoil's deep sea exploration plans in Te Reinga Basin.

Over the past 10 days the delegation have been in Norway forging relationships with the indigenous Sámi peoples, seeking moral, political and strategic legal support in demanding a future free of deep sea oil drilling.

And now they are in the country’s oil capital of Stavanger, preparing to tell Statoil management that their ships are not welcome in Aotearoa’s seas.

The delegation of Te Wani Otene, Hinekaa Mako and Mike Smith, will attend Statoil’s AGM taking place tonight (NZT), and will be delivering a speech there.

As one of the Kaitiaki for the marine area, kaumatua and member of Te Ahipara Komiti Takutaimoana, Te Wani Otene, says Te Parewhero wants Statoil to surrender their permits as soon as possible.

“We did not consent to Statoil exploring for oil in our territory, Te Ahipara Komiti Takutaimoana are taking a claim to the Waitangi Tribunal to protect our moana, to protect Te Oneroa a Tohe,” he says.

ENDS

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