Protesters who staged a sit-in outside an oil conference in central Auckland yesterday are planning several more protests in coming months.
Protesters walked to SkyCity yesterday where the Petroleum Summit is being held this week. Photo: RNZ / Murielle Baker
More than 500 people joined the hikoi, which began in Northland on Saturday, to protest against Norwegian giant Statoil, which has a 15-year permit to explore for oil off the coast of Ninety Mile Beach.
One of the key messages from the protesters was that Far North iwi do not want the company to begin drilling, saying it would disturb the marine environment and affect sea life.
A Te Rarawa iwi member from Ahipara, Reuben Taipari Porter, said there would be more protests - on land and the ocean - from December through to Waitangi Day on 6 February.
The Petroleum Exploration and Production Association of New Zealand said it is open to future discussions with Northland iwi.