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A south Taranaki iwi says the use of private investigators to spy on it shows the crown’s petroleum and minerals’ consent process is corrupt.
Ngāti Ruanui has battled oil exploration and plans to mine iron sand from the seabed off Pātea.
Chief executive Debbie Ngarewa Packer says she as angered by revelations the Ministry for Business, Innovation and Employment used the firm Thompson and Clark to coordinate its response with oil and mining companies, including spying on advocacy groups.
"Thompson and Clark were requested to monitor us, particularly during protest actions. So it's wow, really, your officials think it's ok for us as tangata whenua to be monitored as kaitiaki," she says.
Ms Ngarewa Packer says the ministers who endorsed and condoned the surveillance need to stand up and be accountable.
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