Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s electoral office has been plastered in American flags and an image of US President Donald Trump in a protest by Greenpeace. 

Greenpeace this morning confirmed it was behind the protest at Luxon’s Botany premises against the Government’s proposed framework with the United States on critical minerals. 

Photos from Luxon’s Botany office show multiple American flags propped up along the entrance, with a large poster of Trump sitting alongside an image of Luxon, while a sign on the front lawn read “Trump war minerals HQ”. 

It comes after the Herald revealed that Cabinet had been briefed on the topic and officials had negotiated amendments to the text prior to Luxon suggesting discussions were at a “very preliminary stage”. 

Greenpeace Aotearoa campaigner Juressa Lee said any minerals deal would not only lead to environmental destruction, it would also make New Zealand complicit in Trump’s warmongering. 

“The Luxon Government must not sign Aotearoa away to fuel the United States’ illegal wars. New Zealand should have no part in this, and that includes giving Trump access to the resources he needs to keep dropping bombs.” 

The proposed framework could provide New Zealand with direct funding from the US into critical mineral projects, “leading to increased economic activity and promoting New Zealand technology solutions”, according to recently released documents. 

“We are seeing in real time the terrible impacts of Trump’s wars across the world. New Zealand should not become complicit in this,” Lee added. 

“We know a minerals deal would be bad for the land and sea of Aotearoa. But since the United States and Israeli Governments launched a military attack on Iran in clear breach of international law - the stakes are even higher.” 

More than 13,000 people have signed a Greenpeace petition calling for Luxon to refuse Trump’s demands for critical minerals. 

“We’re calling on Luxon to say no to a minerals deal with Trump. We’re also inviting the public to show their strong opposition to this deal if they’re concerned about complicity in war mongering and the exploitation of our environment for military aggression. 

“This is not the first time the US has tried to disrupt a free and peaceful Pacific, the history of nuclear testing proves this. Aotearoa and the Pacific were united over stopping the region being a nuclear testing ground then and now we must do it again, and not be complicit in providing the materials for war.”