The two Kiwi fertilizer firms Ballance Agri-Nutrients and Ravensdown contribute to a violation of international law, by importing phosphates from the occupying power Morocco.
Ballance and Ravensdown purchase up to 1 million tonnes of phosphates from the occupied territory of Western Sahara annually, directly contributing to the continued oppression of the Sahrawi people.
This has made New Zealand one of the main financial supporters of the illegal occupation for the last decades.
The transportation itself of phosphates from Western Sahara to New Zealand costs 70 USD/tonne, according to the website www.stuff.co.nz on 3 January 2011. This comes in addition to the phosphate itself, which the Moroccan government is selling for 140 dollars/tonne.
Future underwater mining offshore New Zealand could lead to a halt of the unethcial imports. The underwater phosphate deposits are located in an area called Chatham Rise, and one of the firms looking into the possibilities, Widespread Energy, say a mine could start production already in 2013. Widespread sees the governmental approvals and funding as the main obstacles.
The conflict phosphates - four decades of plunder
For over 40 years, a Moroccan state-owned company has exported phosphate rock from occupied Western Sahara.
Protest in New Zealand against conflict mineral imports
From the end of this year, 2 of 3 global importers of Western Sahara's controversial conflict minerals are from New Zealand. This week, locals protested in the city of Dunedin.
The New Zealand phosphate controversy
The two New Zealand companies Ravensdown and Ballance Agri-Nutrients, now the only two clients of phosphate rock from occupied Western Sahara in the world, are defending their purchases on social media. Here is what is wrong with what they claim.
NZ fertiliser importers defend their imports
The New Zealand Fertiliser Association, representing the controversial importing companies in New Zealand is quoted by national TV that they are "aware of what's happening in Western Sahara but that's no reason not to use phosphate rock from the area".