French Polynesia's opposition leader says his party will launch a petition to stop European multi-national companies wanting to mine in the territory.
Oscar Temaru said his Tavini Huiraatira also planned to hold a march in Tahiti to express its opposition to any mining plans.
He told a news conference that the petition was to accompany his party's campaign at the United Nations for the territory's decolonisation.
Mr Temaru said the UN process called on France to respect the territory's right to sovereignty over all resources, including those at sea.
He said under French law, the state could claim French Polynesia's resources if they were declared of strategic value.
Paris has the rights to the territory's seabed and continental shelves, which are believed to be rich in rare earths.
Photo: RNZ
