19 Sep 2011

Oil exploration permit challenged

1:24 pm on 19 September 2011

Greenpeace and an East Cape iwi are taking legal action against the Government's decision to issue a Brazilian company a permit for deep sea oil exploration off the eastern coast of the North Island.

Petrobras has a Government permit to explore the Raukumara Basin.

Greenpeace and te Whanau a Apanui have filed an application for a judicial review in the High Court in Wellington. They want the permit quashed on environmental and Treaty of Waitangi grounds.

Greenpeace says the Government has failed to properly regard the principles of the Treaty, as well as consider the environmental impact of activities associated with the exploratory work.