Rahui Katene

Wellington, June 16 NZPA - The Maori Party, inspired by US President Barack Obama, is trying to convene urgent all-party talks on ways to reduce New Zealand's reliance on oil and protect the country from "multi-national moguls".

MP Rahui Katene today cited President Obama's warning that the world was running out of places to drill for oil.

"The time has come for all political parties to come together and take action on what we are going to do about the global oil crisis and how it will affect this nation," she said.

"If we don't, it will only be a matter of time before we see more and more multi-national moguls mining our great frontier... and an increase in the risk of catastrophic oil spills in our part of the world."

Mrs Katene said New Zealand was using more than double the crude oil it produced and demand was increasing, despite the global climate change campaign.

She said she was writing to all political parties asking for an urgent meeting.