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A campaigner against further oil exploration says Maori resistance is inspiring others trying to stop New Zealand’s waters being opened up for exploitation.
Urs Signer from Climate Justice Taranaki says this week’s largest-ever block offer is madness at a time the world needs to transition to a low carbon economy.
The offers open up another 525,000 square kilometres of sea around the whole country and 1000 square kilometres of land in Taranaki to oil and gas companies.
Mr Signer says what’s left out is interesting.
"Te Whanau a Apanui now have no block offers in front of their coast. Their struggles so far have been successful and the same can be said for the Parihaka community which wrote several letters to government in opposition to drilling and Parihaka has now been excluded from block offers in Taranaki. That shows it's worthwhile putting up a fight," he says.
Urs Signer says this week’s block offer comes just days after the announcement that February 2016 was the hottest month since records began.
Copyright © 2016, UMA Broadcasting Ltd: www.waateanews.com
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