Environmental activists have plastered the Prime Minister's electorate office in Auckland's Botany with Donald Trump's face in opposition to a possible critical minerals deal with the US.
On January 14, Trump issued a proclamation threatening more tariffs if "trading partners" fail to sign agreements on critical minerals and their derivative products within 180 days of his announcement.
Following this, New Zealand was one of 55 delegations that met in Washinton DC discuss the supply of rare and critical minerals to the US, as Trump sought to reduce reliance on China for material viewed as pivotal for artificial intelligence, robotics and batteries.
In February, a top US official said that talks with New Zealand's Government over critical minerals would include "mineral extraction" from the country's resources.
A statement released by the US State Department at the time said: "[The USA and New Zealand are] committed to explore further opportunities to expand cooperation on critical minerals, energy, critical and emerging technologies, and the digital economy to ensure economic resilience and mutual prosperity.”
While the New Zealand coalition Government has previously been supportive of the idea of growing the critical minerals sector, and had already confirmed that a 'US-New Zealand Critical Minerals Framework' was being worked on, it hasn’t released any detail as to what any agreement with the United States might include.
Luxon had previously said any discussion on a minerals framework was at a "very preliminary stage".
In response to the proposed critical minerals deal, Greenpeace activists today claimed responsibility for a protest outside Luxon's electorate office in east Auckland.
The environmental group raised a US flag, added an image of Trump to the office windows, decorated the lawn with US flags, and renamed the office as "Trump war minerals HQ".
Greenpeace Aotearoa campaigner Juressa Lee warned that any minerals deal would lead to environmental destruction from more mining projects on land and at sea.
"“Our message to Luxon is clear. Aotearoa is not a US outpost. We must not allow the US to dictate widespread mining that could cause irreversible harm to the whenua, moana and people here in Aotearoa," Lee said in a statement.
When asked about the protest, a spokesperson for Luxon's office said the matter was with police and it was best placed to answer questions.
Police have been contacted for comment.
SHARE ME