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Campaigners protesting against the closure of the Marsden Point Oil Refinery were in Kaiwaka on June 18, lining State Highway 1 for several hours with placards and vehicles bearing slogans.
The Dig in at Marsden protesters have been occupying land near the entrance to the refinery since early April, but are now taking their message further afield to raise awareness of the closure and the fact that New Zealand now relies solely on imported refined fuel.
Spokesman Brad Flutey says the group’s aim is to secure Marsden Point Oil through a combination of activism pressure, fundraising and preventing its dismantling and destruction.
He says New Zealand can’t afford to rely on overseas refineries that could be affected by geopolitical turmoil and the refinery should be reinstated.
According to the Dig in at Marsden website, the campaigners are a group of farmers and tradies passionate about sharing knowledge “on how poor policies and decisions create monopolies that steal from us”.
“We seek to advocate for the wishes of the people of this land by addressing issues directly and using our collective skills, training, experience and knowledge to drive a direct approach toward solutions.
“Energy independence is one of those key areas and Marsden Point Oil refinery is an integral part of that.”
