With a David and Goliath match continuing off Raglan’s Coast, Manu Bay surfers are supporting the Oil Free Seas Flotilla with signs at scenic spots along the Whaanga Coast opposing the oil drilling.
Out at sea the Texan oil company’s drillship arrived this morning (19th) and confronted the Oil Free Seas Flotilla. The sailing ship the Vega is on position at the drilling site.
Greenpeace executive director Bunny McDiarmid is onboard the Vega and is hoping to give a children’s flag to the drilling ship, which she contacted by radio minutes ago.
She said: “The sailing vessel Vega will not be moving. We will stay where we are in defence of our ocean, in defence of future generations, in defence of climate.
“We have onboard a flag made by children that says ‘I love my beach’. These children don’t want oil slopping onto their beaches or belched into their seas.
“We’re here to deliver this children’s flag to Anadarko’s massive, untested drilling ship. Anadarko have consistently ignored New Zealand. They, and the government, have hidden vital information from the people of New Zealand. So let’s see if they’ll ignore our children.”
Anadarko said the Noble Bob Douglas “was where it needs to be.”