By James Perry of Maori Television
A petition containing nearly 40,000 signatures calling for seabed mining to be banned was presented to Māori Party MP Debbie Ngarewa-Packer and Green Party MP Eugenie Sage at Parliament this afternoon.
South Taranaki-based Ngāti Ruanui, which has a number of legal actions to prevent seabed mining in their rohe, supported the delivery of the petition that was promoted by a number of environmental and political groups including Kiwis Against Seabed Mining, Greenpeace Aotearoa, and Te Pāti Māori. The petition seeks to have all seabed and deep-sea mining banned from the coastlines right out to the edge of the Exclusive Economic Zone.
James Hita, who presented the petition to the MPs, said the ramifications of seabed mining, and deep-sea mining would be far-reaching.
"The ocean provides every second breath that we take, and that is at risk. We don't have time to sit and rest, we need to take action. This petition represents the actions of more than 35,000 people telling the Government to take action, to protect our futures, and protect Te Moana nui a Kiwa.