November 22, 2017
Maori make mark on climate talks
Climate Change Minister and Greens leader James Shaw says the Maori stand against deep sea oil and gas exploration and seabed mining added credibility to New Zealand's participation in this year's United Nations climate change conference in Germany.
As well as Mr Shaw and Pacific Minister Aupito William Sio, a small delgation of Maori youth made the trip to Bonn.
It was able to provide support not only for other Pasifika youth delegations but other indigenous youth as issues of significance to indigenous people were put on the agenda.
Mr Shaw says the actions by iwi and hapu in Tairawhiti, Taranaki,Te Taitokerau and other areas has been noted, especially when it means rejecting promises of jobs and economic development.
"They see through that and realise they don't get a lot of the benefit and any benefit they might get is short term and it is outweighed by the long term consequences environmentally and in terms of cultural values. I think that is one of the reasons these other indigenous groups from around the world were looking at our Maori representatives in Bonn because of that kind of leadership role and that track record," he says.
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