A water protector has performed a stirring rendition of the haka, soaking his body in black oil as he demonstrated against a petroleum conference in New Plymouth, New Zealand.
This video, shared by Greenpeace New Zealand, shows the man and another protester dumping oil over their heads before the traditional Maori war dance is initiated.
School children and grandmothers were among the 150 or so protesters outside the New Zealand Petroleum Conference in New Plymouth.
The protesters originally said they were planning a peaceful demonstration but events started getting physical when delegates tried to enter the TSB Showplace for the start of the two-day event.
Activists jumped over the barriers and linked arms directly outside the entrance, physically blocking the doorways as delegates arrived. Protesters were also present at the back entrance to the venue and police forcibly removed some protesters from both entrances.
The Petroleum Exploration and Production Association of New Zealand (PEPANZ) chief executive Cameron Madgwick said the annual conference has always attracted protests and event organisers worked closely with the New Plymouth District Council and the police in the lead up to the event.
"I'm here for the water, we want clean water so we can swim in it," a kid said.
The youngster blew bubbles as other protesters sang and cheered loudly as a group of protesters successfully stopped some delegates from entering the building.
"We don't want them here, they are trying to make our water dirty," the Waitara schoolgirl said, adding she had taken the day off school to attend the protest.
Another youngster, Frances Edwards, 8, had also taken time off from school in Auckland to attend the protest.
"I am here for the whales and dolphins because they can't speak."
This video, shared by Greenpeace New Zealand, shows the man and another protester dumping oil over their heads before the traditional Maori war dance is initiated.
School children and grandmothers were among the 150 or so protesters outside the New Zealand Petroleum Conference in New Plymouth.
The protesters originally said they were planning a peaceful demonstration but events started getting physical when delegates tried to enter the TSB Showplace for the start of the two-day event.
Activists jumped over the barriers and linked arms directly outside the entrance, physically blocking the doorways as delegates arrived. Protesters were also present at the back entrance to the venue and police forcibly removed some protesters from both entrances.
The Petroleum Exploration and Production Association of New Zealand (PEPANZ) chief executive Cameron Madgwick said the annual conference has always attracted protests and event organisers worked closely with the New Plymouth District Council and the police in the lead up to the event.
"I'm here for the water, we want clean water so we can swim in it," a kid said.
The youngster blew bubbles as other protesters sang and cheered loudly as a group of protesters successfully stopped some delegates from entering the building.
"We don't want them here, they are trying to make our water dirty," the Waitara schoolgirl said, adding she had taken the day off school to attend the protest.
Another youngster, Frances Edwards, 8, had also taken time off from school in Auckland to attend the protest.
"I am here for the whales and dolphins because they can't speak."
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