It is reported that four Greenpeace activists have been arrested after shutting down a coalmine used to help power a Fonterra dairy factory.

Inspector Mr Olaf Jensen said that up to 12 protesters were involved. He added that said four people were arrested and charged with trespassing shortly after 6.30AM local time.

Mr Jensen said the activists had chained themselves to equipment and blocked the entrance but given the swift response from police the coal mine was back up and running. He added that "There was no real interruption to the coal mine."

The activists had unfurled a 40 square meters banner reading "Fonterra Climate Crime" at the New Vale mine, near Gore in Southland. Greenpeace said that lignite coal was one of the dirtiest fossil fuels and Fonterra's use of it to power milk dehydrators at its Edendale milk processing plant was a climate crime.

Mr John Hutchings GM of sustainable production at Fonterra said that the Greenpeace protest had not had any immediate impact on dairy processing at the Edendale plant. He added that Fonterra used the best mix of a range of energy sources including coal at some sites and was constantly searching to improve energy efficiency.

(Sourced from www.nzherald.co.nz)