A collective of Ngapuhi hapu in Northland is urging its descendants living in Australia not to take up offers from oil companies to return home and mine.
Te Whakaminenga o nga hapu Ngapuhi says members living in Australia are being encouraged to return to the north by corporates wanting them to carry out mineral exploration in the area.
Collective spokesperson Bryce Smith says it has employment and environment aspirations which do not involve removing oil from underground or toxic mining.
Mr Smith says its families in Australia are being used to front up and oppose the position of the whanau in Ngapuhi in a bid to divide and conquer, and he's not happy about it. Its people are not welcome home if they intend to carry out this work.
The issue will be discussed at Waitangi this week.
