Port Taranaki protest: Greenpeace targets Fonterra over palm kernel imports

The police say several people have been trespassed by port management, and four people will face charges.

Port Taranaki chief executive Simon Craddock says it will carry out an investigation into the break-in.

The group stopped a ship from Indonesia carrying 30,000 tonnes of palm kernel expeller from unloading. They are currently in the storage facility of Agrifeeds, which is Fonterra’s biggest palm kernel supplier.

Two activists were locked on to pillars, while another two have unveiled a banner labelling Fonterra butter brand Anchor as a “rainforest killer”.

Agriculture campaigner Sinead Deighton-O’Flynn said they were protesting against the use of palm kernel as cow feed, because of its links to deforestation in South East Asia.

“Every year, New Zealand dairy cows are eating almost 2 million tonnes of palm kernel that comes from Southeast Asia, and [it] is contributing to the destruction of rain forests and the endangerment of rare wildlife in Southeast Asia,” she said.

“We are here calling on Fonterra to phase out the use of palm kernel and to cut their ties to deforestation.”

Deighton-O’Flynn also said the palm industry was driving rare wildlife like the Sumatran orangutan towards extinction.

Port Taranaki general manager of operations Alex Park said the safety of its customers, staff and protesters was paramount.

“The port operational area is off-limits to the public because it is a hazardous environment, and there are strict health and safety considerations,” he said.

“We understand and accept the public’s right to protest in a peaceful and safe way, but do not condone action that breaches the port boundary and puts the welfare of port staff, customers and the protesters themselves at risk.”

Fonterra sustainability director Charlotte Rutherford said Fonterra respected the right to protest peacefully, without compromising safety or infringing on private property.

“Fonterra is committed to sustainable sourcing of palm products and is working with others to improve practices across the supply chain.

“As previously mentioned, since learning of allegations around sustainable sourcing, we have been discussing with Agrifeeds our request for evidence that the supply of PKE meets their ‘No Deforestation, No Peat, No Exploitation’ policy.”

Craddock said an investigation into the breach will take place once the protest ends.

“Port Taranaki is a large site and we make every effort to ensure it is secure. However, it is challenging when there are members of the public who are determined to unlawfully gain access.

“Security fencing and systems are in place to not only protect our customers’ assets and operations but also protect the public, as the operations area is a hazardous site with heavy machinery and trucks operating 24 hours a day,” Craddock said.

RNZ has also reachd out to Agrifeeds for comment.

- RNZ