Members of a South Taranaki hapu have prevented trucks from dumping oil and gas drilling waste at a dump site on vacant farmland near their marae.
More than a dozen protesters from Ngati Haua barred the gates to the land at Oeo, near Opunake, from 6am on Wednesday.
They are worried about possible contamination from waste sludge, which is spread on to land.
Hapu spokesperson Karl Adamson said protesting has been the only way to get surveying and planning company BTW, which is involved in managing the site, and councils to listen to their concerns.
"We want to be assured that 20 years down the track it's not going to have an impact on our people and our whenua (land).
"Because what we're saying is they've gone right up to the foreshore and we believe there's the potential for contamination down into the sea."
BTW director Phil Dickey said he had a positive meeting with the group and further waste would be dropped at an alternative farm site until another meeting is held.
Mr Adamson said he is pleased that BTW has agreed to stop bringing in waste until everyone is happy.
