February 01, 2015
Rules set for Statoil protesters
Waitangi elders hope to contain protest at Te Tii Marae by giving the protesters a speaking platform.
Ngapuhi’s attempts to use the lower marae to welcome at all official attendees to the Waitangi Day commemorations have been repeatedly been marred by protest, including a physical attack on Prime Minister John Key in 2009.
Taumata member Rihari Dargaville says issues such as offshore oil exploration and rights to freshwater have generated a lot of heat in the north and is likely to bring out some protesters.
They will get their own powhiri before Mr Key arrives on Thursday.
"They will be called on to the marae like wi did last year, so we will not just have anyone jumping up and down, they will have their opportunity to come on to the marae, express their position, and if in fact it arises they want to demand to talk to the Prime Minister, we did this last year, we will ask them to elect a small group, no more than two, so they can present their case to thhe Prime Minister on his visit," Mr Dargaville says.
FOR THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH RIHARI DARGAVILLE CLICK ON THE LINK
https://secure.zeald.com/uma/play_podcast?podlink=MjU5MTc=
Copyright © 2015, UMA Broadcasting Ltd: www.waateanews.com