If you really want to help indigenous people, now is your time.
Ngati Paoa and other protestors have been occupying Putiki Bay after resource consent was given to develop it without consent from the local iwi. Today, they are blocked by police as developers being to destroy Little Blue Penguin habitat, a species on the decline with climate change and habitat destruction.
Public outrage and eyes on Putiki may be the only thing that can save Putiki now after every route has failed. Spread information about Putiki every where you can - Instagram, Tumblr, Twitter, your local group chat, whatever. Please please please help save Putiki Bay, Aotearoa NZ!
That was the 17/06/21. I can confirm that 3 people were arrested at the protest as construction began behind the police line, for trespass (information here).
Today (18/06/2021) was quiet, however there is a lot of recovery to do. Multiple people at the protest have said that security and police used excessive force of them to keep them away from the boundary line, and Protect Putiki is calling for a formal apology.
Protect Putiki has also claimed that they, police, security and developers all heard the penguins (currently in their mating season) calling within 5m of the demolition of rocks - this would put them at immediate risk of the construction.
You can contact David Parker, Minister for the Environment, Oceans and Fisheries, and Revenue, and Associate Minister of Finance to let him know what you think here.
You can contact Kiri Allan, Minister of Conservation, and Emergency Management and Associate Minister for Arts, Culture & Heritage, and the Environment to let her know what you think here.
