A Ukraine Peace Flotilla has arrived outside the Northland home of Russian oligarch Alexander Abramov to protest.
The Ukraine Peace Flotilla left Whangaruru harbour early this morning for Helena Bay, north of Whangārei. Photo: Supplied/ Greenpeace
At least six boats sailed to Helena Bay, north of Whangārei, early this morning to protest facing the private estate owned by Abramov.
They were joined by two local boats, six kayaks and two stand up paddle boards.
More are expected to join through the morning.
The flotilla is asking the government to freeze Abramov's New Zealand assets.
Although he is one of the few super-rich influential Russians with assets in New Zealand, he is not on the official sanctions list intended to put pressure on Russia to stop the invasion of Ukraine.
The government has said the list will remain under review.
The flotilla was led in by Carmen Hetaraka and Bruce Williams from their Oakura fish and chip shop on their fishing boat.
Greenpeace has joined the flotilla, it said almost 10,000 people have signed their petition calling for the Government to freeze oligarch assets.
Its programme director Niamh O'Flynn is on board a yacht, and told RNZ the water was a bit choppy, but demonstrators plan to remain on their vessels in the bay for a few hours to get their message across.
"The main message is that we need to do our bit to end this war peacefully, and that means sanctioning oligarchs, it means freezing the assets of oligarchs like Alexander Abramov, immediately."
Greenpeace's Niamh O'Flynn at the protest in Helena Bay, in front of Alexander Abramov's Northland property. Photo: Supplied/ Greenpeace
She said the invasion of Ukraine was "horrific", and sanctioning oligarchs puts pressure Russia's president to end the war. Greenpeace said it had also published details it claimed links Abramov to Russia's president.
Among the protest boats is the SV Mary of York, which O'Flynn said took part in 1980s protests against nuclear ships.
"Since Russia invaded Ukraine, there is a real threat of nuclear war," O'Flynn said.
The Helena Bay lodge owned by Alexander Abramov (File photo). Photo: Supplied
On 24 February the New Zealand Government announced a list of officials from the Russian government and others involved in the invasion of Ukraine, who are named in a targeted travel-ban.
On 9 March the new Russia Sanctions Bill was passed by parliament under urgency by all parties. It allows for New Zealand to impose harsher sanctions.
Some Northlanders living near Abramov's lodge had earlier put up Ukrainian flags on their properties.