Another victory for Otaraua hapu - Day 55

Greymouth Petroleum (GMP) tried again yesterday to force the removal of the Otaraua Hapu occupation at Tikorangi Pa near Waitara but failed.

GMP sent an email on May 13 to the hapu advising them to move their camp so an old wooden power pole behind the camp could be replaced. A previous attempt of this tactic failed some weeks ago when the hapu refused to move. The hapu again said yesterday that they were not required by the power company to move their camp and even had they wanted to they couldn't as it would take them several days to organise a crane to move the portacom they've now hired.

The hapu left the camp as was required and sat twenty metres away having a cup of tea in the morning sun while the power company tried to start work. GMP however phoned the power company bosses to try and get them to up their rules and evict the camp. After several hours standoff the power company workers left in disgust at GMP's attempts to use them against the hapu yet again. The power company workers were heard saying GMP could "go find another contractor". As the local Taranaki Daily media turned up GMP bosses sped off back to town and the hapu successfully moved back into their camp for another cup of tea.

The Otaraua hapu have been maintaining an occupation camp 24/7 since March 22nd, at the foot of their pa (and the entrance to the GMP gas plant site). After weeks of trying to negotiate with GMP to not put their gas pipeline through the wahi tapu and the underground waipuna, GMP finally gave their word to go around the hill. They refused however to give this in writing or for the full extent of their thirty year permit. That same day the hapu brought in a portacom to extend the occupation for as long as it would take to get a written agreement. The gas plant construction has been allowed to continue but no drilling equipment will be allowed in. Official wahi tapu protection status is still being sought through the Taranaki District Council. They expect that could take several more months to come through.

The hapu welcome whanau from around the motu to visit the occupation camp and find out more about what's going on or support. The occupation can be found on the corner of Ngatimaru and Tikorangi roads just inland of Waitara.