May 11, 2015
Norwegian indigenous support sought
A Maori delegation to Norway will ask that country’s indigenous parliament to join them to stop Statoil drilling off the Northland coast.
Mike Smith, Hinekaa Maako and Sonny Otene will meet the Sami parliament in Finnmark tomorrow.
Mr Smith says a multi-pronged approach is being taken against the Norwegian state oil company, including community protests, legal challenges and international pressure.
He says while the New Zealand Government is determined to promote oil exploration with no regard to the environmental cost, Norway’s has signed up to international agreements to protect indigenous rights.
"They are more receptive to these ideas than perhaps our own government is. There's international measures that we are considering taking within the UN and that's one of the things we are going to talk to the Saami about, whether or not we can take a joint case to the United Nations from both the Saami and Maori working together to protect our rights with their support." Mr Smith says.
The delegation will also meet with NGOs, civil society and environmental groups before Statoil’s annual meeting next week.
Copyright © 2015, UMA Broadcasting Ltd: www.waateanews.com