Anti-dairy activists arrested: Construction to continue

Watching 12 activists – including an 88-year-old man – being arrested in the Mackenzie Basin was "pretty moving", Greenpeace sustainable agriculture campaigner Gen Toop says.

At daybreak Protesters locked themselves "on to diggers and machinery" to be used in the construction of an irrigation pipeline for Simons Pass Station south of Lake Pukaki

This is a long time ago, but it is a long time ago, and it is a long time ago. Miss Toop said.

"We've gotten to stand up and say enough's enough – and peaceful civil disobedience has always been part of the movements that we've got the social progress that we've got today. [19659002] "We think it's important, and we're really proud of our 12 activists."

A police spokeswoman confirmed the arrests had been made, the protesters had been taken to Timaru Police Station, adding charges were likely. No more details were available.

The owner of the station, Valentine Murray, of Dunedin, did not want to comment in a new day, but it would have begun in 2005, but said he would be "very happy" to speak with the Otago Daily Times at a later date.

"It's a big development, but we're just a small family farm," he said.

"We accept that people have their own views: some people opposes

He said that he was not needed, he had prepared for the protesters.

Yesterday's action caused "a whole lot of disruption for everybody ''.

"Some vehicles have been broken into, some people being unhelpful, but basically, the same delay we would have had had a day of rain."

Construction would continue, Mr Valentine said.

A Greenpeace petition that uses the farm to shine 0 signatures last night

Federated Farmers High Country chairman Simon Williamson called the protesters "irresponsible" and said the area needed "balance".

He called the current situation in the Mackenzie Basin "complex".

19659002] The ground had degraded and the tussock-covered land that many people signed the petition might have been trying to protect it

"That's a long gone with hieracium, and rabbits, and now you've got pine trees incursions on it – there's a lot of people just do not understand, '' he said.

"The water is pristine up here and they will be bound by the same checks as everyone else, and if there are found to be a problem, they will be held accountable. ''