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Greenpeace ocean dip puts oil ship off course
Greenpeace activists including its New Zealand head Russel Norman have put the offshore oil exploration vessel Amazon Warrior off course by swimming in its path, 50 nautical miles off the Wairarapa coast.
The organisation had been tailing the 125 metre vessel for the past two days in its new 15 metre boat Taitu, which was bought after it raised $100,000 in a week of crowdfunding.
Dr Norman says the right to peaceful protest is essential to a healthy democracy and New Zealand has a long and proud tradition of protest at sea.
He says despite knowing climate change threatens homes, health and families, the Government is actively subsidising oil companies to look for new oil which the science says should stay in the ground to avoid climate catastrophe.
The protest follows last week's voyage by Ngati Kahungunu waka Te Matau a Maui to deliver a message of opposition to the Amazon Warrior on behalf of more than 80 hapu of Te Ikaroa.
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