Greenpeace Protesters Arrested During Mining Demonstration in Wellington
Five people have been arrested after a Greenpeace protest outside the Wellington office of mining lobby group Straterra, which resulted in the closure of a city road.
Five Greenpeace activists were arrested for protesting at the office of mining lobby group Straterra. The protest led to the closure of The Terrace, a major Wellington road home to significant institutions like the Reserve Bank of New Zealand, the Ministry of Justice, and Wellington City Council.
These activists were protesting against Straterra’s plans to expedite a seabed mining project in the South Taranaki Bight for their client, Trans-Tasman Resources.
Under the government’s new fast track law, certain projects can bypass required planning processes, raising concerns from critics about the lack of consideration for environmental impacts.
Greenpeace stated, “If seabed mining is fast-tracked, it will disregard expert advice, the desires of local iwi (community), environmental groups, Taranaki communities, and the 60,000 New Zealanders who signed a petition against it.”
During the protest, three activists, including Greenpeace program director Niamh O’Flynn, barricaded themselves inside the building, while two individuals mounted an awning displaying a large banner reading “No Seabed Mining.”
Police, fire trucks, and onlookers were present at the scene, with some people unable to access their workplaces due to the road closure.
Political Differences Expressed
Greenpeace described the protest as a part of their promised resistance against companies considering using the fast-track process which was signed by over 7,500 people.
The group criticized Straterra as a “malignant force in New Zealand politics” exerting influence over government policies in secretive ways.
Green Party spokesperson Steve Abel praised Greenpeace’s action against seabed mining, criticizing the government’s focus on destructive resource exploitation.
Abel supported peaceful civil disobedience, contrasting with senior Minister Shane Jones who derogatorily referred to Greenpeace as “blood-sucking vermin.”
Despite such criticism, Jones defended the fast-track legislation, stating that protests only strengthen his resolve to push for expedited processes. He welcomed protestors to his office instead.
