One chance to speak
This is an extremely important panui for everyone who resides on or has interests in the west coast (Panguru, Mitimiti, Motuti, Pawarenga, Whangape and Te Hiku o Te Ika included).
If you haven't been informed, the government have opened up the west coast of the Far North to offshore oil drilling, the extraction of petroleum buried deep under the ocean floor.
There are huge environmental risks that accompany oil drilling. There is the risk of oil spills affecting kaimoana, ika, nga tohora and the sustainability of all marine life. This can also affect our own ability to sustain ourselves, something those on the west coast have naturally been used to as kaitiaki and mana whenua.
In addition to that, the government is also attempting to pass marine legislation that states that in terms of offshore drilling they will no longer need to notify the public or consult with hapu and iwi should they wish to carry out activities off the coast of North Hokianga and Te Hiku o Te Ika. Unfortunately, this exploitation of Tangaroa and Papatuanuku is all founded on the greed of money.
