Police are speaking to two Greenpeace protesters after employees were forced to evacuate Fonterra's headquarters in Auckland over a bomb scare this morning.
The evacuation of more than 100 employees about 8.15am came as Greenpeace protested Fonterra's alleged purchase of palm kernel animal feeds from the rainforests of Southeast Asia.
Inspector Lou Alofa of the police northern communications centre said the building on Princes St was evacuated after a suspicious package was left by an elevator at the building.
"We have dealt with the package and can confirm it was not an improvised explosive device," Mr Alofa told NZPA.
"We discovered it was actually two speakers." Mr Alofa said police were speaking to two protesters but no charges had been laid.
Staff had returned to the building by 9.30am.
Greenpeace called on Fonterra and the Government to end New Zealand's importation of palm kernel grown on areas of destroyed rainforest which it said was driving climate change and putting at risk several species, including the orangutan.
"As the palm industry opens up new frontiers across Indonesia, companies like Fonterra, which is expected to spend $230 million this year buying up a quarter of the world's traded palm kernel, is helping to fuel this destruction," Greenpeace New Zealand Communications Manager Suzette Jackson said.
Fonterra did not wish to comment on the incident which happened ahead of today's annual result announcement.
