PEACEFUL PROTEST
"I think we will win, we will eventually."
Dr Stuart Bramhall
A group of protesters are confident their cries will put an end to seismic surveying being carried out off the coast of Taranaki.
But if not, Dr Stuart Bramhall of Climate Justice Taranaki said they were prepared to take civil action.
‘‘I think we will win, we will eventually,’’ she said.
‘‘There are people who are prepared to do civil disobedience.’’
About 60 people gathered at New Plymouth’s Nga¯ motu Beach on Saturday to raise awareness and stop fossil fuel exploration by oilfield services company Schlumberger New Zealand.
The oil and gas giant’s seismic survey vessel, the Amazon Warrior, is undertaking three months of survey work on behalf of Austrian oil exploration company OMV in the South Taranaki Basin.
Bramhall said the method used for the survey, which sends out sound waves underwater every eight seconds, was disturbing marine life.
‘‘We just want it to stop. ‘‘And if the Government’s not going to do the right thing then you have to break the law - you have no choice.’’
The peaceful protest was one in a series and included people of many ages. Some demonstrators took to the water on kayaks with banners while others stood on the beach chanting and waving signs of protest.
Emily Bailey of Climate Justice Taranaki said it was also a chance for people to practise safety on the water if they were to attempt to block the Amazon Warrior’s support vessels from coming into Port Taranaki.
‘‘They come into the New Plymouth port every three days or so,’’ she said. ‘‘So the idea is that if we want to - if anybody wants to in their own capacity - you can block off this port and stop the ship coming and leaving.’’
She said the group had also secured a boat which could take them closer to the Amazon Warrior to protest its activity.
‘‘But we don’t have any definite plans yet.’’
Among the opposers was 13-year-old Ngakau Rain who wanted to see an end to seismic surveying.
The year-9 Waitara High School boy said the exploration was destroying marine life.
‘‘It’s unfair,’’ he said. ‘‘They shouldn’t be able to get away with this.’’
While Rain was already a seasoned protester, it was his first time heading out on the water in a kayak.
The youngster was a little nervous but knew it was a worthy cause, he said.
‘‘I hope this makes some of the people realise what they’re actually doing.’’