Marae celebrates small win against heavy industry

Whareroa Marae is celebrating a small win against heavy industry, after an oil company withdrew its application to build and run a jet fuel tank farm at the nearby port in Mount Maunganui. Timaru Oil Service had taken its consent application for four 20m-high A-1 jet fuel and diesel tanks at Totara St to the Court of Appeal, after an independent hearing commissioner denied the consent due to cultural and visual effects. The marae, of Ngāi Te Rangi hapū Ngāti Kuku and Ngāi Tukairangi, has been fighting the proposal. Its Taiao spokesperson Joel Ngātuere speaks to Māni Dunlop.