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National | Northland

Te Rarawa to track oil exploration in Northland

Oil Company Statoil has been granted oil exploration rights in the Reinga-Northland Basin.

Although Te Rarawa don't approve of that, they want to establish an iwi group to monitor Statoil's activities.

Haami Piripi of Te Rūnanga o Te Rarawa says, “We've heard stories about them from overseas but that's just talk.  What we want is to see, to ask, to question, so we know what's what.”

Statoil are the applicants, the Govt are the approvers, and the caretakers say they just want to be informed, with the right information.

Mr Piripi says, “If the oil company says this and that, do we believe them?  If the Govt says this is what's happening, do we believe them?

For this particular project, we will watch them and we the caretakers will have the right information.”

Te Rūnanga o Te Rarawa hopes that other iwi support their cause but there are many people set in their ways and they have differing opinions.

The rūnanga will put their case for an iwi monitoring programme to the Govt at this year's Waitangi Day Celebrations.