A group of Maori have taken part in one of the largest marches New York has seen to protest against climate change.
Climate change protesters clogged up Wall Street ahead of the UN summit on Monday. Photo: AFP
The first United Nations Indigenous conference is being held in the US city, which also hosted Climate Summit 2014 - Catalyzing Action where 120 world leaders talked about strategies for achieving a new global climate treaty.
The march drew protesters from around the world, including Aotearoa. Maori representatives highlighted government plans for deep sea oil drilling, which they said posed an environmental risk.
Carl Hutchby is in New York representing Maori at the UN indigenous hui and said tangata whenua closed down Wall Street to express their concerns.
At one stage, he said it was estimated that there were about 312,000 people on the march, but it has now been acknowledged that more than 400,000 took part.
Mr Hutchby, from Whanganui iwi Te Atihaunui a Paparangi, said more people who care about the environment are getting on board, saying there have been enough meetings and it is time to do something about it now before the whole world suffers the consequences.