18 Aug 2022

Polluting companies taken to Supreme Court by iwi leader

From Midday Report, 12:50 pm on 18 August 2022

Iwi leader and climate change iwi chairs forum co chair, Mike Smith, has faced off against some of New Zealand's biggest climate polluters in the Supreme Court this week.

Mr Smith is suing fossil fuel and dairy companies, including Genesis Energy, Fonterra, and Z Energy for public nuisance and negligence for their contributions to climate change. 

After the Court of Appeal threw the case out, the Supreme Court granted leave for the judgement to be challenged and to determine if it can have a full trial.    

Mike Smith spoke to Māni Dunlop about the case.