Dispute over oil permit sparks bitter war of words

A war of words has broken out between Energy and Resources Minister Gerry Brownlee and Ngati Porou leader Dr Apirana Mahuika.

The bitterness stems from what level of consultation with iwi took place about the Government's decision to grant Brazilian company Petrobras an exploratory permit for the Raukumara Basin off East Cape.

Yesterday, Mr Brownlee accused tribes of a "breach of trust" while Dr Mahuika said the minister had clearly "f***** up".

At Parliament yesterday, Mr Brownlee tabled a chronology of "engagement with iwi", singling out Ngati Porou and Te Whanau a Apanui but also citing 69 iwi and hapu in total which were sent details of the initial proposal last August. That was followed up by calls to Te Runanga o Ngati Porou in October asking for a meeting between leaders and Crown Minerals policy manager Rob Robson.

On October 8 "Ngati Porou's executive assistant noted that the iwi was very busy with its Treaty negotiations and foreshore and seabed settlement". Six days later Mr Robson followed up again. "[The assistant] advised that it was 'not a good time at this stage', but would discuss the matter with the CEO and respond." According to the chronology, that did not happen.

It was an incongruous document as Mr Brownlee had previously apologised to iwi for consultation issues.

A spokesman said Mr Brownlee would not be speaking further on the matter, however the original apology earlier in the month was aimed at the quality of consultation.

"But as the weeks went by there were suggestions there had been no consultation as well," he said.

In the House Mr Brownlee said: "The first point I'd make is that good will and good faith is something that goes two ways and ... I also feel like there has been a breach of good faith by the parties in their dealings with me."

Dr Mahuika disputed parts of the chronology and said the first relevant call he received was from Mr Robson an hour before the Petrobras contract was awarded on June 1.

Asked if the processes at the runanga were partly to blame for Ngati Porou being uninformed, Dr Mahuika said it had been asking the Government for information on where mining on the East Coast might occur - independently of the Petrobras situation - in the three months before the announcement.

"We were told it was commercially sensitive and they couldn't tell us."