Thousands protest deep-sea drilling

Thousands of anti-deep sea oil drilling protesters are making their message heard at a protest in central Auckland this afternoon.

The group of environmentalists, campaigners and Maori independence activists are protesting outside a major oil industry summit at the SkyCity convention centre.

Newstalk ZB reporter Michael Sergel said the protesters had taken over Federal St.

He said thousands of people were chanting "frack off". Several hundred people were on drums and the conference delegates were likely to notice, he said.

The protest, a collaboration between Greenpeace New Zealand, 350 Aotearoa, Kiwis Against Seabed Mining and Oil Free Auckland, kicked off at midday today.

The group heard speeches and performances at Victoria Park before marching to SkyCity, where the Advantage New Zealand Petroleum Summit is taking place.

Summit attendees include Energy and Resources Minister Simon Bridges, who the protest group said was expected to announce the Government's 2015 block offers for petroleum exploration.

Greenpeace climate and energy spokesperson Steve Abel said deep sea drilling risks a catastrophic oil spill that could irreparably damage New Zealand's oceans, coasts, economy and way of life.

- Newstalk ZB/NZME

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