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Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has welcomed a move by iwi leaders to highlight the challenge of climate change.
The Iwi Chairs Forum is hosting a climate change symposium next week on the eve of the annual oil and gas industry conference.
Ms Ardern says the issue was brought home to her during her five day trip last week to the Pacific, where people are dealing not just with mitigation but with adaptation.
"And there is no question in the Pacific when you travel there around whether on not climate change is real because they see it, they see the fact they are losing their coast areas and villages are relocating so we need to take it seriously and I'm really pleased iwi leaders are pushing us to do that," she says.
Ms Ardern says it’s important there is a strong Maori voice to remind people of the fundamental value of kaitiakitanga or guardianship of the environment.
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