The daughter of Ngāpuhi climate activist Mike Smith has shared his legal case against climate polluters - which has been blocked by the government - at the UN's annual climate summit.
Bianca Ranson (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Kahu ki Whaingaroa), a climate activist herself, presented on behalf of Smith at an event at COP31 in Türkiye early on Thursday morning (NZT).
Smith's case against Fonterra, Z Energy and other major emitters was due to be heard in the High Court next April.
It was stopped in its tracks after the incumbent government - prompted by Smith's case - stepped in to block both current and future tort-based litigation over climate change, passing a law change under urgency in August.
RNZ reported in May that a previously undisclosed briefing document had been provided to the prime minister's office by Fonterra and Z Energy regarding Smith's case.
RNZ also reported officials had told the government not to intervene in the court case.
Smith was now challenging the law change through a new case filed in the High Court in June.
About 80,000 delegates are at COP31, which features both official negotiations as well as hundreds of side events hosted by countries, NGOs and other groups.
New Zealand's delegation would be joined by caretaker climate minister Simon Watts and Labour and Green MPs next week…
